THE  LADY  OF 
LOYALTY  HOUSE 


B 


BY 


JUSTIN  HUNTLY  MCCARTHY 

AUTHOR   OP 
"  MARJORIE  "   "  THE    PROUD   PRINCE  "   ETC. 


HARPER  &  BROTHERS  PUBLISHERS 

NEW    YORK    AND    LONDON 

1904 


Copyright,  1904,  by  HARPER  &  BROTHERS. 

All  rights  nsirvrd. 
Published  October,  1904. 


AD   SILVIAM 

Take  for  our  lady's  loyal  sake 

This  vagrant  tale  of  mine, 
Where  Cavalier  and  Roundhead  break 

A  reed  for  Right  Divine, 
A  tale  it  pleasured  me  to  make, 

And  most  to  make  it  thine. 

The  Solemn  Muse  that  watches  o'er 

The  actions  of  the  great, 
And  bids  this  Venturer  to  soar, 

And  that  to  stand  and  wait, 
Will  swear  she  never  heard  before 

The  deeds  that  I  relate. 
i 

But  all  is  true  for  me  and  you, 

Though  History  denies  ; 
I  know  thy  Royal  Standard  flew 

Against  autumnal  skies, 
And  find  thy  rarest,  bravest  blue 

In  Brilliana's  eyes. 

J.  H.  McC. 

August  io,  1904. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

PROLOGUE  i 

I.  THE  STRANGER  AT  THE  GATES "4 

II.  HARBY 16 

III.  MY  LORD  THE  LADY 26 

IV.  THE  LEAGUER  OF  HARBY 33 

V.  A  MONSTROUS  REGIMENT 40 

VI.  How  WILL  ALL  END? 49 

VII.  MISTRESS  AND  MAN 56 

VIII.  THE  ENVOY 62 

IX.  How  THE  SIEGE  WAS  RAISED 73 

X.  PRISONER  OF  WAR 82 

XI.  AT  BAY .  90 

XII.  A  USE  FOR  A  PRISONER 99 

XIII.  A  GILDED  CAGE no 

XIV.  A  PASSAGE  AT  ARMS 120 

XV.  MY  LADY'S  PLEASAUNCE 129 

XVI.  A  PURITAN  APPRAISED 138 

XVII.  SET  A  KNAVE  TO  CATCH  A  KNAVE     .     .     .  149 

XVIII.  SERVING  THE  KING 156 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

XIX. 


PAGE 
165 

180 


SIR  BLAISE  PAYS  His  RESPECTS      .     . 

XX.  SIR  BLAISE  PAYS  His  PENALTY  .     .     . 

XXI.  A  PUZZLING  PURITAN 188 

XXII.  MASTER  PAUL  AND  MASTER  PETER  .     .     .  203 

XXIII.  A  DAY  PASSES 212 

XXIV.  A  HIGH  COURT  OF  JUSTICE 223 

XXV.  ROMEO  AND  JULIET 235 

XXVI.  RESURRECTION 249 

XXVII.  THE  KING'S  IMAGE 256 

XXVIII.  LOVER  AND  LOVER 266 

XXIX.  THE  KING  MAKES  A  FRIEND 273 

XXX.  RUFUS  PROPOSES 281 

XXXI.  HALFMAN  DISPOSES 286 

EPILOGUE                             296 


THE 
LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 


THE 
LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 


PROLOGUE 

IN  the  October  of  1642  there  came  to  Cam- 
bridge a  man  from  over-seas.  He  was  travelling 
backward,  after  the  interval  of  a  generation, 
through  the  stages  of  his  youth.  From  his  land- 
ing at  the  port  whence  he  had  sailed  so  many 
years  before  in  chase  of  fortune  he  came  to  Lon- 
don, where  he  had  bustled  and  thundered  as  a 
stage-player.  Here  he  found  a  new  drama  play- 
ing in  a  theatre  that  took  a  capital  city  for  its 
cockpit.  He  observed,  sinister  and  diverted,  for 
a  while,  and,  being  an  adaptable  man,  shifted 
his  southern- colored  garments,  over-blue,  over- 
red,  over-yellow  in  their  seafaring  way,  for  the 
sombre  gray  surcharged  with  solemn  black.  A 
translated  man,  if  not  a  changed  man,  he  jour- 
neyed to  the  university  town  of  his  stormy 
student  hours,  and  there  the  black  in  his  habit 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

deepened  at  the  expense  of  the  gray.  In  the 
quadrangle  of  Sidney  Sussex  College  he  medi- 
tated much  on  the  changes  that  had  come  about 
since  the  days  when  Sidney  Sussex  had  expelled 
him,  very  peremptorily,  from  her  gates.  The 
college  herself  had  altered  greatly  since  his  day. 
The  fair  court  that  Ralph  Symons  had  construct- 
ed had  now  its  complement  in  the  fair  new  court 
of  Francis  Clerke.  The  enlargement  of  his 
mother-college  was  not  so  marvellous  to  him, 
however,  as  the  enlargement  of  one  among  her 
sons.  A  fellow-commoner  of  his  time  had,  like 
himself,  come  again  to  Cambridge,  arriving 
thither  by  a  different  road.  This  fellow-com- 
moner was  now  the  member  in  Parliament  for 
Cambridge,  had  buckled  a  soldier's  baldric  over 
a  farmer's  coat,  had  carried  things  with  a  high 
hand  in  the  ancient  collegiate  city,  had  made 
himself  greatly  liked  by  these,  greatly  disliked 
by  those. 

Musing  philosophically,  but  also  observing 
shrewdly  and  inquiring  as  pertinaciously  as 
dexterously,  our  traveller  made  himself  familiar 
with  places  of  public  resort,  sat  in  taverns  where 
he  tasted  ale  more  soberly  than  was  his  use  or 
his  pleasure,  listened,  patently  devout,  to  godly 
exhortations,  and  implicated  himself  by  an  in- 
terested silence  in  strenuous  political  opinions. 


PROLOGUE 

From  all  this  he  learned  much  that  amazed, 
much  that  amused  him,  but  what  interested 
him  most  of  all  had  to  do  with  the  third  stage 
of  his  retrospective  pilgrimage.  If  he  had  not 
been  bound  for  Harby  eventually,  what  came 
to  his  ears  by  chance  would  have  spurred  him 
thither,  ever  keen  as  he  was  to  behold  the 
vivid,  the  theatrical  in  life.  Women  had  al- 
ways delighted  him,  if  they  had  often  damned 
him,  and  there  was  a  woman's  name  on  rumor's 
many  tongues  when  rumor  talked  of  Harby. 
So  it  came  to  be  that  he  rode  sooner  than  he  had 
proposed,  and  far  harder  than  he  had  proposed, 
through  green,  level  Cambridgeshire,  through 
green,  hilly  Oxfordshire,  with  Harby  for  his  goal. 
Chameleon-like,  he  changed  hues  on  the  way, 
shifting,  with  the  help  of  his  wallet,  back  into 
a  gaudier  garb  less  likely  to  be  frowned  on  in 
regions  kindly  to  the  King. 


THE   STRANGER   AT   THE   GATES 

THE  village  of  Harby  was  vastly  proud  of  its 
inn,  and  by  consequence  the  innkeeper  thought 
highly  of  the  village  of  Harby.  He  had  been  a 
happy  innkeeper  for  the  better  part  of  a  reason- 
ably long  life,  and  he  had  hoped  to  be  a  happy 
innkeeper  to  that  life's  desirably  distant  close. 
But  the  world  is  not  made  for  innkeepers  by 
innkeepers,  and  Master  Vallance  was  newly 
come  into  woes.  For  it  had  pleased  certain 
persons  of  importance  lately  to  come  to  logger- 
heads without  any  consideration  for  the  welfare 
of  Master  Vallance,  and  in  trying  to  peer  through 
the  dust  of  their  broils  on  the  possible  future 
for  England  and  himself,  he  could  prognosticate 
little  good  for  either.  Master  Vallance  was  a 
patriot  after  his  fashion ;  he  wished  his  country 
well,  but  he  wished  himself  better,  and  the 
brawling  of  certain  persons  of  importance  might, 
apart  from  its  direct  influence  upon  the  fort- 
unes of  the  kingdom,  indirectly  result  in  Master 
Vallance's  downfall.  For  the  persons  of  im- 

4 


THE   STRANGER   AT  THE   GATES 

portance  whose  bickerings  so  grievously  in- 
terested Master  Vallance  were  on  the  one  side 
his  most  sacred  and  gracious  Majesty  King 
Charles  I.,  and  on  the  other  a  number  of  units 
as  to  whose  powers  or  purposes  Master  Vallance 
entertained  only  the  most  shadowy  notions, 
but  who  were  disagreeably  familiar  to  him  in 
a  term  of  mystery  as  the  Parliament. 

In  the  mellow  October  evening  Master 
Vallance  sat  at  his  inn  door  and  dandled 
troubled  thoughts.  The  year  of  his  lord  1642 
having  begun  badly,  threatened  to  end  worse. 
Master  Vallance  chewed  the  cud  of  country-side 
gossip.  He  reminded  himself  that  not  so  very 
far  away  the  King  had  set  up  his  standard  at 
Nottingham  and  summoned  all  loyal  souls  to  his 
banner ;  that  not  so  very  far  away  in  Cambridge, 
a  fussy  gentleman,  a  Mr.  Cromwell,  member  for 
that  place,  had  officiously  pushed  the  interests 
of  the  Parliament  by  raising  troops  of  volunteers 
and  laying  violent  hands  upon  the  University 
plate.  Master  Vallance  tickled  his  chin  and 
tried  to  count  miles  and  to  weigh  probabilities. 
Royalty  was  near,  but  Parliament  seemed  near- 
er; which  would  be  the  first  of  the  fighting 
forces  to  spread  a  strong  hand  over  Harby? 

Master  Vallance  emptied  his  mug  and,  turn- 
ing his  head,  looked  up  the  village  street,  and 

5 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

over  the  village  street  to  the  rising  ground  be- 
yond and  the  gray  house  that  crowned  it.  He 
sighed  as  he  surveyed  the  familiar  walls  of  Har- 
by  House,  because  of  one  unfamiliar  object. 
Over  the  ancient  walls,  straight  from  the  an- 
cient roof,  sprang  a  flag-staff,  and  from  that 
flag-staff  floated  a  banner  which  Master  Val- 
lance  knew  well  enough  to  be  the  royal  standard 
of  England's  King.  Master  Vallance  also  knew, 
for  he  had  been  told  this  by  Master  Marfleet,  the 
school-master,  that  the  Lady  of  Harby  had  no 
right  to  fly  the  standard,  seeing  that  the  pres- 
ence of  that  standard  implied  the  bodily  pres- 
ence of  the  King.  But  he  also  knew,  still  on 
Master  Marfleet's  authority,  that  the  Lady  of 
Harby  had  flung  that  standard  to  the  winds  in 
no  ignorance  nor  defiance  of  courtly  custom. 
He  knew  that  the  high-spirited,  beautiful  girl 
had  been  the  first  in  all  the  country-side  to  de- 
clare for  the  King,  prompt  where  others  were 
slow,  loyal  where  others  faltered,  and  that  she 
flew  the  King's  flag  from  her  own  battlements 
in  subtle  assertion  of  her  belief  that  in  every 
faithful  house  the  King  was  figuratively,  or,  as 
it  were,  spiritually,  a  guest. 

Master  Vallance,  reflecting  drearily  upon  the 
uncertainties  of  an  existence  in  which  high- 
spirited,  beautiful  young  ladies  played  an  im- 

6 


THE   STRANGER   AT   THE   GATES 

port  ant  part,  became  all  of  a  sudden,  though 
unaccountably,  aware  that  he  was  not  alone. 
Moving  his  muddled  head  slowly  away  from 
the  walls  of  Harby,  he  allowed  it  to  describe  the 
better  part  of  a  semicircle  before  it  paused, 
and  he  gazed  upon  the  face  of  a  stranger.  The 
stranger  was  eying  the  innkeeper  with  a  kind  of 
good-natured  ferociousness  or  ferocious  good- 
nature, which  little  in  the  stranger's  appearance 
or  demeanor  tended  to  make  more  palatable  to 
the  timid  eyes  of  Master  Vallance. 

''Outlandish,"  was  the  epithet  which  lum- 
bered into  Master  Vallance's  mind  as  he  gaped, 
and  the  epithet  fitted  the  new-comer  aptly. 
He  was,  indeed,  an  Englishman ;  that  was  plain 
enough  to  the  instinct  of  another  Englishman, 
if  only  for  the  gray-blue  English  eyes;  and  yet 
there  was  little  that  was  English  in  the  sun- 
scorched  darkness  of  his  face,  little  that  was 
English  in  the  almost  fantastic  effrontery  of  his 
carriage,  the  more  than  fantastic  effrontery  of 
his  habit. 

When  the  stranger  perceived  that  he  had 
riveted  Master  Vallance's  attention,  he  smiled 
a  derisive  smile,  which  allowed  the  innkeeper  to 
observe  a  mouthful  of  teeth  irregular  but  white. 
Then  he  extended  a  lean,  brown  hand  whose 
fingers  glittered  with  many  rings,  and  caught 

7 


THE   LADY   OF   LOYALTY   HOUSE 

Master  Vallance  by  his  fat  shoulder,  into  whose 
flesh  the  grip  seemed  to  sink  like  the  resistless 
talons  of  a  bird  of  prey.  Slowly  he  swayed 
Master  Vallance  backward  and  forward,  while 
over  the  dark  face  rippled  a  succession  of  leers, 
grins,  and  grimaces,  which  had  the  effect  of 
making  Master  Vallance  feel  thoroughly  un- 
comfortable. Nor  did  the  stranger's  speech, 
when  speech  came,  carry  much  of  reassur- 
ance. 

"  Bestir  thee,  drowsy  serving-slave  of  Bac- 
chus," the  stranger  chanted,  in  a  pompous,  high- 
pitched  voice.  "  Emerge  from  the  lubberland 
of  dreams,  and  be  swift  in  attendance  upon  a 
wight  whose  wandering  star  has  led  him  to 
your  hospitable  gate." 

As  the  stranger  uttered  these  last  words  his 
hand  had  drawn  the  bemused  innkeeper  tow- 
ards him:  with  their  utterance  he  suddenly  re- 
leased his  grip,  thereby  causing  Master  Vallance 
to  lurch  heavily  backward  and  bump  his  shoul- 
ders sorely  against  the  inn  wall.  The  stranger 
thrust  his  face  close  to  Master  Vallance' s,  and 
while  a  succession  of  grimaces  rippled  over  its 
sunburned  surface  he  continued,  in  a  tone  of 
mock  pathos: 

"  Do  you  shut  your  door  against  the  houseless 
and  the  homeless,  O  iron -hearted  innkeeper? 

8 


THE   STRANGER   AT   THE    GATES 

Can  the  wandering  orphan  find  no  portion  in 
your  heart?" 

Then,  as  Master  Vallance  was  slowly  making 
sure  that  he  had  to  deal  with  a  dangerous  lunatic, 
the  stranger  drew  himself  up  and  swayed  to  and 
fro  in  a  fit  of  inextinguishable  laughter. 

"Lordamercy  upon  me,"  he  said,  when  he 
had  done  laughing,  in  a  perfectly  natural  voice. 
"  I  have  seen  some  frightened  fools  before,  but 
never  a  fool  so  frightened.  Tell  me,  honest 
blockhead,  did  you  ever  hear  such  a  name  as 
Half  man?" 

Master  Vallance,  torpidly  reassured,  medi- 
tated. "  Halfman,"  he  murmured.  "Halfman. 
Ay,  there  was  one  in  this  village,  long  ago,  had 
such  a  name.  He  had  a  roguish  son,  and  they 
say  the  son  came  to  a  bad  end." 

The  new-comer  nodded  his  head  gravely. 

"He  had  a  roguish  son,"  he  said;  "but  I  am 
loath  to  admit  that  he  came  to  a  bad  end,  un- 
less it  be  so  to  end  at  ease  in  Harby.  For  I  am 
that  same  Hercules  Halfman,  at  your  service, 
my  ancient  ape,  come  back  to  Harby  after  nigh 
thirty  years  of  sea- travel  and  land- travel,  with 
no  other  purpose  in  my  mind  than  to  sit  at  my 
ease  by  mine  own  hearth  in  winter  and  to  loll 
in  my  garden  in  summer.  What  do  you  say 
to  that,  O  father  of  all  fools?" 

9 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY   HOUSE 

Master  Vallance,  having  nothing  particular 
to  say,  said,  for  the  moment,  nothing.  He  was 
dimly  appreciating,  however,  that  this  vocifer- 
ous intruder  upon  his  quiet  had  all  the  appear- 
ance of  one  who  was  well  to  do  and  all  the  man- 
ner of  one  accustomed  to  have  his  own  way  in 
the  world.  It  seemed  to  him,  therefore,  that 
the  happiest  suggestion  he  could  make  to  the 
home-comer  was  to  quench  his  thirst,  and, 
further,  to  do  so  with  the  aid  of  a  flask  of  wine. 

The  stranger  agreed  to  the  first  clause  of  the 
proposition  and  vetoed  the  second. 

"  Ale,"  he  said,  emphatically.  "  Honest  Eng- 
lish ale.  I  am  of  a  very  English  temper  to- 
day; I  would  play  the  part  of  a  true-hearted 
Englishman  to  the  life,  and,  therefore,  my  tipple 
is  true-hearted  English  ale." 

Master  Vallance  motioned  to  his  guest  to  enter 
the  house,  but  Half  man  denied  him. 

"Out  in  the  open,"  he  carolled.  "Out  in 
the  open,  friend."  He  rattled  off  some  lines 
of  blank  verse  in  praise  of  the  liberal  air  that 
set  Master  Vallance  staring  before  he  resumed 
plain  speech.  "  When  a  man  has  lived  in  such 
hissing  hot  places  that  he  is  fain  to  spend  his 
life  under  cover,  he  is  glad  to  keep  abroad  in  this 
green  English  sweetness." 

He  had  seated  himself  comfortably  on  the 

10 


THE   STRANGER   AT   THE   GATES 

settle  by  now,  and  he  stretched  out  his  arms  as 
if  to  embrace  the  prospect.  Master  Vallance 
dived  into  the  inn,  and  when  he  emerged  a  few 
seconds  later,  bearing  two  large  pewter  meas- 
ures, the  traveller  was  still  surveying  the  land- 
scape with  the  same  air  of  ecstasy.  Master 
Vallance  handed  him  a  full  tankard,  which  Half- 
man  drained  at  a  draught  and  rattled  on  the 
table  with  a  sigh  of  satisfaction. 

"Right  English  ale,"  he  attested.  "Divine 
English  ale.  What  gold  would  I  not  have 
given,  what  blood  would  I  not  have  spilled  for 
such  a  draught  as  that,  so  clean,  so  cool,  so 
noble,  in  the  lands  where  I  have  lived.  The 
Dry  Tortugas — the  Dry  Tortugas,  and  never 
a  drop  of  English  ale  to  cool  an  English  pal- 
ate." 

He  seemed  so  affected  by  the  reflection  that 
he  let  his  hand  close,  as  if  unconsciously,  upon 
Master  Vallance 's  tankard,  which  Master  Val- 
lance had  set  upon  the  table  untasted,  and  be- 
fore the  innkeeper  could  interfere  its  contents 
had  disappeared  down  Halfman's  throat  and  a 
second  empty  vessel  rattled  upon  the  board. 

The  eloquence  of  disappointment  on  Master 
Vallance 's  face  as  he  beheld  this  dexterity 
moved  the  thirst- slaked  Half  man  to  new  mirth. 
But  while  he  laughed  he  thrust  his  hand  in  his 

ii 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY   HOUSE 

breeches-pocket  and  pulled  out  a  palm  full  of 
gold  pieces. 

"Never  fear,  Master  Landlord,"  he  shouted; 
"you  shall  drink  of  your  best  at  my  expense,  I 
promise  you.  We  will  hob-a-nob  together,  I 
tell  you.  Keep  me  your  best  bedroom,  laven- 
der-scented linen  and  all.  I  will  take  my  ease 
here  till  I  set  up  my  Spanish  castle  on  English 
earth,  and  in  the  mean  time  I  swear  I  will  never 
quarrel  with  your  reckoning.  I  have  lived  so 
long  upon  others  that  it  is  only  fair  another 
should  live  upon  me  for  a  change.  So  fill  mugs 
again,  Master  Landlord,  and  let  us  have  a 
chat." 

Master  Vallance  did  fill  the  mugs  again,  more 
than  once,  and  he  and  the  stranger  did  have  a 
chat ;  at  least,  they  talked  together  for  the  better 
part  of  an  hour.  In  all  that  time  Master  Val- 
lance, fumbling  foolishly  with  flagrant  questions, 
learned  little  of  his  companion  save  what  that 
companion  was  willing,  or  maybe  determined, 
that  he  should  learn.  Master  Half  man  made 
no  concealment  of  it  that  he  had  been  wild  at 
Cambridge,  and  he  hinted,  indeed,  broadly 
enough,  that  he  had  had  a  companion  in  his 
wildness  who  had  since  grown  to  be  a  godly 
man  that  carried  the  name  of  Cromwell.  He 
admitted  frankly  that  his  pranks  cast  him  forth 

12 


THE   STRANGER   AT   THE   GATES 

from  Cambridge,  and  that  he  had  been  a  stage- 
player  for  a  time  in  London,  in  proof  whereof 
he  declaimed  to  the  amazed  Master  Vallance 
many  flowing  periods  from  Beaumont,  Fletcher, 
Massinger,  and  their  kind  —  mental  fireworks 
that  bedazzled  the  innkeeper.  Of  his  voyages, 
indeed,  he  spoke  more  vaguely  if  not  more 
sparingly,  conjuring  up  gorgeous  visions  to 
the  landlord  of  pampas  and  palm-lands,  where 
gold  and  beauty  forever  answered  to  the  ready 
hand.  But  Master  Halfman,  for  his  part  vol- 
ubly indistinct  and  without  seeming  to  inter- 
rogate at  all,  was  soon  in  possession  of  every 
item  of  information  concerning  the  country- 
side that  was  of  the  least  likelihood  to  serve 
him.  He  learned,  for  instance,  what  he  had 
indeed  guessed,  that  the  simple  country-folk 
knew  little  and  cared  little  for  the  quarrel  that 
was  brewing  over  their  heads,  and  had  little  idea 
of  what  the  consequences  might  be  to  them  and 
theirs.  He  learned  that  the  local  gentry  were, 
for  the  most  part,  lukewarm  politicians;  that 
Peter  Rainham  and  Paul  Hungerford  were  keep- 
ing themselves  very  much  to  themselves,  and  be- 
ing a  brace  of  skinflints  were  fearing  chiefly  for 
their  money-bags;  while  Sir  Blaise  Mickleton, 
who  had  been  credited  with  the  intention  of 
riding  to  join  his  Majesty  at  Shrewsbury,  had 

13 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

suddenly  taken  to  his  bed  sick  of  a  strange  dis- 
temper which  declared  itself  in  no  outward 
form,  but  absolutely  forbade  its  victim  to  take 
violent  action  of  any  kind.  He  learned  that  there 
were  exceptions  to  this  tepidity.  Sir  Randolph 
Harby,  of  Harby  Lesser,  beyond  the  hill,  Sir 
Rufus  Quaryll,  of  Quaryll  Tower,  had  mounted 
horse  and  whistled  to  men  at  the  first  whisper  of 
the  business  and  ridden  like  devils  to  rally  on 
the  King's  flag.  He  learned  much  that  was  fa- 
miliar and  important  to  him  of  the  Harby  fam- 
ily history ;  he  learned  much  that  was  unfamiliar 
and  unimportant  to  him  of  local  matters,  such 
as  that  Master  Marfleet,  the  village  school- 
master, was  inclined  to  say  all  that  might  be 
said  in  praise  of  the  Parliament  men,  and  that, 
when  all  was  said  and  done,  the  only  avowed 
out-and-out  loyalist  in  the  neighborhood  was 
no  man  at  all,  but  a  beautiful,  high-spirited  girl- 
woman,  the  Lady  Brilliana  Harby. 

The  Lady  Brilliana  Harby.  When  Half  man 
was  a  lad  gray  Roland  was  Earl  of  Harby,  a 
choleric  scholar,  seeming  celibate  in  grain, 
though  the  title  ran  in  direct  male  line.  Sud- 
denly, as  Halfman  now  learned,  gray  Roland 
married  a  maid  some  forty  years  younger  than 
he,  and  she  gave  him  a  child  and  died  in  the  giv- 
ing. This  did  not  perpetuate  the  title,  for  the 

14 


THE    STRANGER   AT   THE    GATES 

child  was  a  girl,  but  it  gave  the  gray  lord  some- 
thing to  cherish  for  the  sake  of  his  lost  love. 
This  child  was  now  the  Lady  Brilliana,  whom 
gray  Roland  had  adored  and  spoiled  to  the  day 
of  his  own  death,  hastened  by  a  fit  of  rage  at  the 
news  of  the  King's  failure  to  capture  the  five 
members.  Since  then  the  Lady  Brilliana  had 
reigned  alone  at  Harby,  indifferent  to  suitors, 
and  had  flown  the  King's  flag  at  the  first  point 
of  war.  "By  Heaven!"  said  Halfman,  "I  will 
have  a  look  at  the  Lady  Brilliana." 


II 

HARBY 

As  he  tramped  the  muddy  hill-road  his  mind 
was  busy.  The  scent  from  the  wet  weeds  on 
either  side  of  him,  heavy  with  the  yester  rains, 
brought  back  his  boyhood  insistently,  and  his 
memory  leaped  between  then  and  now  like  a 
shuttlecock.  He  had  dreamed  dreams  then; 
he  was  dreaming  dreams  now,  though  he  had 
thought  he  was  done  with  dreams.  A  few  short 
months  ago  he  had  planned  out  his  last  part, 
the  prosperous  village  citizen,  the  authority  of 
the  gossips,  respectable  and  respected.  His 
fancy  had  dwelt  so  fondly  upon  the  house  where 
he  proposed  to  dwell  that  he  seemed  to  know 
every  crimson  eave  of  it,  every  flower  in  the 
trim  garden,  the  settle  by  the  porch  where  he 
should  sit  and  smoke  his  pipe  and  drain  his  can 
and  listen  to  the  booming  of  the  bees,  while  he 
complacently  savored  the  after-taste  of  discred- 
itable adventures.  He  knew  it  so  well  in  his 
mind  that  he  had  half  come  to  believe  that  it 
really  existed,  that  he  had  always  owned  it,  that 

16 


HARBY 

it  truly  awaited  his  home-coming,  and  his  feeling 
as  he  entered  the  village  that  morning  had  been 
that  he  could  walk  straight  to  it,  instead  of 
abiding  at  the  inn  and  going  hither  and  thither 
day  after  day  until  he  found  in  the  market  a 
homestead  nearest  to  his  picture.  And  now  he 
was  walking  away  from  it,  walking  fairly  fast, 
too,  and  walking  whither  ?  What  business  was 
it  of  his,  after  all,  if  some  sad-faced  fellows  from 
Cambridge  tramped  across  country  to  lay  puri- 
tan hands  upon  Harby.  What  business  was  it 
of  his  if  monarch  browbeat  Parliament  or  Par- 
liament defied  king  ?  He  owed  nothing  to  either, 
cared  nothing  for  either ;  what  he  owned  he  owed 
to  his  sharp  sword,  his  dull  conscience,  his  rogue's 
luck,  and  his  player's  heart.  Why,  then,  was 
he  going  to  Harby  when  he  ought  to  be  busy  in 
the  village  looking  for  that  house  with  crimson 
eaves  and  the  bee-haunted  garden? 

He  knew  well  enough,  though  he  did  not  par- 
cel out  his  knowledge  into  formal  answers.  In 
the  first  place,  if  the  country  was  bent  upon 
these  civil  broils,  clearly  his  intended  character 
of  pipe-smoking,  ale-drinking  citizen  was  wholly 
unsuited  to  the  coming  play.  Wherefore,  in  a 
jiff  he  had  abandoned  it,  and  now  stood,  men- 
tally, as  naked  as  a  plucked  fowl  while  he  con- 
sidered what  costume  he  should  wear  and  what 

17 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

character  he  should  choose  to  interpret.  His 
sense  of  humor  tempted  him  to  the  sanctimoni- 
ous suit  of  your  out-and-out  Parliament  man ; 
his  love  for  finery  and  the  high  horse  lured  him 
to  lovelocks  and  feathers.  The  old  piratical 
instinct  which  he  thought  he  had  put  to  bed 
forever  was  awake  in  him,  too,  and  asking  which 
side  could  be  made  to  pay  the  best  for  his  ser- 
vices. If  he  must  take  sides,  which  side  would 
fill  his  pockets  the  fuller?  It  was  in  the  thick 
of  these  thoughts  that  he  found  himself  within 
a  few  feet  of  the  walls  of  the  park  of  Harby. 

The  great  gates  were  closed  that  his  boyhood 
found  always  open.  He  smiled  a  little,  and  his 
smile  increased  as  a  figure  stepped  from  behind 
the  nearest  tree  within  the  walls,  a  sturdy, 
fresh-looking  serving-fellow  armed  with  a  mus- 
ketoon. 

"Hail,  friend,"  sang  out  Halfman,  and 
"Stand,  stranger,"  answered  the  man  with  the 
musketoon.  Halfman  eyed  him  good-humor- 
edly. 

"You  do  not  carry  your  weapon  well,"  he 
commented.  "  Were  I  hostile  and  armed  you 
would  be  a  dead  jack  before  you  could  bring 
butt  to  shoulder.  Yet  you  are  a  soldierly  fel- 
low and  wear  a  fighting  face." 

The  man  with  the  musketoon  met  the  censure 

18 


HARBY 

and  the  commendation  with  the  same  frown  as 
he  surlily  demanded  the  stranger's  business  at 
the  gates  of  Harby. 

"My  business,"  answered  Halfman,  blithely, 
"is  with  the  Lady  of  Harby,"  and  before  the 
other  could  shape  the  refusal  of  his  eyes  into  an 
articulate  grumble  he  went  on,  briskly,  "Tell 
the  Lady  Brilliana  Harby  that  an  old  soldier 
who  is  a  Harby  man  born  has  some  words  to  say 
to  her  which  she  may  be  willing  to  hear." 

"  Are  you  a  King's  man,"  the  other  questioned, 
still  holding  his  weapon  in  awkward  watchful- 
ness of  the  stranger.  Halfman  laughed  pleas- 
antly. 

"  Who  but  a  King's  man  could  hope  to  have 
civil  speech  with  the  Lady  Brilliana  Harby?" 

He  plucked  off  his  hat  as  he  spoke  and  waved 
it  in  the  air  with  a  flourish.  "God  save  the 
King!"  he  shouted,  loyally,  and  for  the  moment 
his  heart  was  as  loyal  as  his  voice,  untroubled 
by  any  thought  of  a  venal  sword  and  a  highest 
bidder.  Just  there  in  the  sunlight,  facing  the 
red  walls  of  Harby  and  the  flapping  standard 
of  the  sovereign,  on  the  eve  of  an  interview  with 
a  bold,  devoted  lady,  it  seemed  so  fitly  his  cue 
to  cry  "  God  save  the  King!"  that  he  did  so  with 
all  the  volume  of  his  lungs. 

The  man  with  the  musketoon  seemed  molli- 

3  19 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

fied  by  the  new-comer's  specious  show  of  alle- 
giance. 

"We  shall  see,"  he  muttered.  "We  shall 
see.  Stay  where  you  are,  just  where  you  are, 
and  I  will  inquire  at  the  hall.  The  gate  is  fast, 
so  you  can  do  no  mischief  while  my  back  is 
turned." 

As  he  spoke  he  turned  on  his  heel  and,  plunging 
among  the  trees  in  pursuit  of  a  shorter  cut  than 
the  winding  avenue,  disappeared  from  view. 
Halfman  eyed  the  gateway  with  a  smile. 

"  I  do  not  think  those  bars  would  keep  me 
out  long  if  I  had  a  mind  to  climb  them,"  he 
said  to  himself,  complacently.  But  he  was  con- 
tent to  wait,  walking  up  and  down  on  the  wet 
grass  and  running  over  in  his  mind  the  play- 
house verses  most  suited  to  a  soldier  of  fortune 
at  the  gate  of  a  great  lady.  He  had  not  to  wait 
long.  Before  the  jumble-cupboard  of  his  mem- 
ory had  furnished  him  with  the  most  felicitous 
quotation  his  ears  heard  a  heavy  tread  through 
the  trees,  and  the  man  with  the  musket  hailed 
him,  tramping  to  the  gate.  He  carried  a  great 
iron  key  in  his  free  hand,  and  this  he  fitted  to 
the  lock  of  the  gate,  which,  unused  to  its  inhos- 
pitable condition,  creaked  and  groaned  as  he 
tugged  at  it.  As  at  length  it  yielded  the  man 
of  Harby  opened  one-half  wide  enough  to  ad- 

20 


HARBY 

mit  the  passage  of  a  human  body,  and  signalled 
to  Half  man  to  come  through.  Half  man,  smil- 
ingly observant,  obeyed  the  invitation,  .and 
looked  about  him  reflective  while  the  gate  was 
again  put  to  and  the  key  again  turned  in  the 
lock  to  the  same  protesting  discord.  Many 
years  had  fallen  from  the  tree  of  his  life  since  he 
last  trod  the  turf  of  Harby.  All  kinds  of  queer 
thoughts  came  about  him,  some  melancholy, 
some  full  of  mockery,  some  malign.  He  was 
no  longer  a  poor  lad  with  the  world  before  him 
to  whom  the  Lord  of  Harby  was  little  less  than 
the  viceregent  of  God;  he  was  a  free  man,  he 
was  a  rich  man,  he  had  multiplied  existences, 
had  drunk  of  the  wine  of  life  from  many  casks 
and  yet  maintained  through  all  a  kind  of  clean- 
ness of  palate,  ready  for  any  vintage  yet  un- 
broached,  be  it  white  or  red.  The  rough  voice 
of  his  companion  stirred  him  from  his  reverie. 

"My  lady  will  see  you,"  he  said.  "Follow 
me." 

As  the  man  spoke  he  started  off  at  a  brisk 
pace  upon  the  avenue  with  the  evident  intention 
of  making  his  words  the  guide-marks  to  the  new- 
comer's deeds.  But  Half  man,  never  a  one  to 
follow  tamely,  with  an  easy  stretch  of  his  long 
limbs,  swung  himself  lightly  beside  his  uncivil 
companion,  and  without  breathing  himself  in 

21 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

the  least  kept  steadily  a  foot-space  ahead  of  him. 
"I  was  ever  counted  a  good  walker,"  he  ob- 
served, cheerfully.  "  I  have  taken  the  world's 
ways  at  the  trot;  you  will  never  outpace  me." 

The  man  of  Harby  slackened  his  speed  for  a 
second,  and  there  came  an  ugly  look  of  quarrel 
into  his  face  which  made  it  plain  as  a  map  for 
Halfman  that  there  was  immediate  chance  of  a 
brawl  and  a  tussle.  He  would  have  relished  it 
well  enough,  knowing  pretty  shrewdly  how  it 
would  end,  but  he  contented  himself  for  the 
moment,  having  other  business  in  hand,  with 
cheerful  comment. 

"Friend,"  he  said,  "if  we  are  both  King's 
men  we  have  no  leisure  for  quarrel,  however 
much  our  fingers  may  itch.  What  is  your 
name,  valiant?" 

The  serving-man  scowled  at  him  for  a  mo- 
ment ;  then  his  frown  faded  as  he  faced  the  smile 
and  the  bright,  wild  eyes  of  Halfman. 

"My  name  is  Thoroughgood,"  he  answered, 
and  he  added,  civilly  enough,  as  if  conscious  of 
some  air  of  gentility  in  his  companion,  "John 
Thoroughgood,  at  your  service." 

"  A  right  good  name  for  a  right  good  fellow, 
if  I  know  anything  of  men,"  Halfman  approved. 
"And  I  take  it  that  you  serve  a  right  good 
lady." 

22 


HARBY 

"My  lady  is  my  lady,"  Thoroughgood  re- 
plied, simply.  "  None  like  her  as  ever  I  heard 
tell  of." 

Halfman  endeavored  by  dexterous  question- 
ings to  get  some  further  information  than  this 
of  the  Lady  of  Harby  from  her  sturdy  servant, 
but  Thoroughgood 's  blunt  brevity  baffled  him, 
and  he  soon  reconciled  himself  to  tramp  in 
silence  by  his  guide.  So  long  as  he  remembered 
anything  he  remembered  that  passage  through 
the  park,  the  sweet  smell  of  the  wet  grass,  the 
waning  splendors,  russet  and  umber,  of  Oc- 
tober leaves,  the  milky  blueness  of  the  autumn 
sky.  This  was,  indeed,  England,  the  long,  half- 
forgotten,  yet  ever  faintly  remembered,  in  places 
of  gold  and  bloodshed  and  furious  suns,  the 
place  of  peace  of  which  the  fortune-seeker  some- 
times dreamed  and  to  which  the  fortune-maker 
chose  to  turn.  The  place  of  peace,  where  every 
man  was  arming,  where  citizens  were  handling 
steel  with  unfamiliar  fingers,  and  where  a  rover 
like  himself  could  not  hope  to  let  his  sword  lie 
idle.  It  was  as  he  thought  these  thoughts  that 
a  turn  of  the  road  brought  him  face  to  face  with 
Harby  Hall,  and  all  the  episodes  of  a  busy, 
bloody  life  seemed  to  dwindle  into  insignifi- 
cance as  he  crossed  the  moat  and  passed  with 
John  Thoroughgood  through  the  guarded  por- 

23 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY   HOUSE 

tals  and  found  himself  once  again  in  the  shelter 
of  the  great  hall. 

The  great  hall  at  Harby  was  justly  celebrated 
in  Oxfordshire  and  in  the  neighboring  counties 
as  one  of  the  loveliest  examples  of  the  rich 
domestic  architecture  which  adorned  the  age 
of  Elizabeth.  "  That  prodigal  bravery  in  build- 
ing," which  Camden  commends,  made  no  fairer 
display  than  at  Harby  which  had  been  designed 
by  the  great  architect  Thorp.  Of  a  Floren- 
tine favor  externally,  it  was  internally  a  mag- 
nificent illustration  of  what  Elizabethan  deco- 
rators could  do,  and  the  great  hall  gave  the  note 
to  which  the  whole  scheme  was  keyed.  Its 
wonderful  mullioned  windows  looked  out  across 
the  moat  on  the  terrace,  and  beyond  the  terrace 
on  the  park.  Its  walls  of  panelled  oak  were 
splendid  witnesses  to  the  skill  of  great  craftsmen. 
Its  carved  roof  was  a  marvel  of  art  that  had 
learned  much  in  Italy  and  had  made  it  English 
with  the  hand  of  genius.  Over  the  great  fire- 
place two  armored  figures  guarded  rigidly  the 
glowing  shield  of  the  founder  of  the  house. 
Heroes  of  the  house,  heroines  of  the  house,  stared 
or  smiled  from  their  canvases  on  the  mortal 
shadows  that  flitted  through  the  great  place 
till  it  should  be  their  turn  to  swell  the  company 
of  the  elect  in  frames  of  gold.  At  one  end  of  the 

24 


HARBY 

hall  sprang  the  fair  staircase  that  was  itself  one 
of  the  greatest  glories  of  Harby,  with  its  won- 
derful balustrade,  on  which,  landing  by  landing, 
stood  the  glorious  carved  figures  of  the  famous 
angels  of  Harby. 


Ill 

MY    LORD   THE    LADY 

BETWEEN  the  topmost  pair  of  carven  angels 
a  woman  stood  for  a  second  looking  down  upon 
the  man  below.  She  had  come  quite  suddenly 
from  a  door  in  the  great  gallery,  and  she  paused 
for  a  moment  on  the  topmost  stair  to  survey 
the  stranger  who  had  summoned  her.  The 
stranger  for  his  part  stared  up  at  the  woman  in 
an  honest  and  immediate  rapture.  He  was  not 
unused  to  comely  women,  seen  afar  or  seen  at 
close  quarters,  but  he  felt  very  sure  now  that  he 
had  never  seen  a  fair  woman  before.  He  prided 
himself  on  a  most  unreverential  spirit,  but  his 
instant,  most  unfamiliar  emotion  was  one  of 
reverence.  His  fantastic  wit  idealized  wildly 
enough.  "An  angel  among  angels,"  he  ex- 
ulted. "Ecce  Rosa  Mundi,"  his  rusty  scholar- 
ship trumpeted.  His  brain  was  a  tumult  of 
passionate  phrases  from  passionate  play-books, 
"  Oh,  thou  art  fairer  than  the  evening  air,"  over- 
riding them  all  like  a  fairy  swan  upon  a  fairy 
sea.  There  never  was  such  a  woman  since  the 

26 


MY    LORD   THE    LADY 

world  began ;  there  never  could  be  such  a  woman 
again  till  the  world  should  end.  And  while  his 
mind  whirled  with  his  own  ecstasies  and  the 
ecstasies  of  dead  players,  the  Lady  Brilliana 
came  slowly  down  the  great  stairs. 

If  the  light  of  her  on  his  eyes  dazzled  him,  if 
the  riot  in  his  mind  overprized  her  excellence, 
a  saner  man  could  scarce  have  failed  to  be  de- 
lighted with  the  girl's  beauty,  a  wiser  to  have 
denied  her  visible  promises  of  merit.  If  better- 
balanced  minds  than  the  mind  of  Hercules  Half- 
man,  striving  to  conjure  up  the  image  of  their 
dreams,  had  looked  upon  the  face,  upon  the  form, 
of  Brilliana  Harby,  they  might  well  have  been 
willing  to  let  imagination  rest  and  be  contented 
with  the  living  flesh.  Twenty  sweet  years  of 
healthy  country  life  had  set  their  seal  of  grace 
and  color  upon  the  child  of  the  union  of  two 
noble,  sturdy  stocks ;  all  that  was  best  of  a  brave 
dead  man  and  a  fair  dead  woman  was  mirrored 
in  the  pride  of  her  face,  the  candor  of  her  eyes, 
the  courage  of  her  mouth.  Lost  father  and  lost 
mother  had  made  a  strange  pair;  all  their  ex- 
cellences were  summed  and  multiplied  in  their 
bright  child's  being.  A  dozen  gallant  gentle- 
men of  Oxford  or  Warwickshire  would  have 
given  their  fortunes  for  the  smallest  scissors- 
clipping  of  one  sable  curl,  would  have  perilled 

27 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY   HOUSE 

their  lives  for  one  kind  smile  of  those  blue 
eyes,  would  have  bartered  their  scanty  chances 
of  salvation  for  the  first  kiss  of  her  fresh 
lips. 

While  she  descended  the  stairs  Halfman 
never  took  his  eyes  off  the  lady.  He  found  him- 
self wishing  he  were  a  painter,  that  he  might 
perpetuate  her  graces  through  a  few  favored 
generations  who  might  behold  and  adore  her 
dimly  as  he  beheld  and  adored  her  clearly,  in 
her  riding-dress  of  Lincoln  green,  whose  volumi- 
nous superfluity  she  held  gathered  to  her  girdle 
as  she  moved.  No  painter  could  have  scanned 
her  more  closely,  noted  more  minutely  the 
buckle  of  brilliants  that  captured  the  plume  in 
her  hat,  the  lace  about  her  throat,  the  curious 
work  upon  her  leather  gauntlets,  the  firm  foot 
in  the  small,  square  shoe,  the  riding- whip  with  its 
pommel  of  gold  which  she  carried  so  command- 
ingly.  Lovely  shadows  trooped  into  his  mind, 
names  that  had  been  naught  but  names  to  him 
till  now — Rosalind,  Camiola,  Bianca.  They  had 
passed  before  him  as  so  many  smooth-faced 
youths,  carrying  awkwardly  and  awry  their 
woman's  wear,  and  lamentably  uninspiring. 
Now  he  saw  all  these  divine  ladies  take  life  in- 
carnate in  this  divine  lady,  and  he  marvelled 
which  of  the  loveliest  of  the  rarely  named  com- 

28 


MY    LORD    THE    LADY 

pany  could  have  shone  on  her  poet's  eyes  so 
dazzlingly  as  this  creature. 

He  stared  in  silence  till  she  had  reached  the 
foot  of  the  staircase,  still  stared  silent  as  she 
advanced  towards  him.  There  was  nothing  dis- 
respectful in  his  direct  glance,  but  the  stead- 
fastness and  the  silence  stirred  her  challenge. 

"Sir,"  she  said,  "when  you  asked  to  see  me 
it  was  not,  I  hope,  in  the  thought  to  stare  me 
out  of  countenance." 

Halfman  made  her  a  sweeping  salutation  and 
found  his  voice  with  an  effort,  but  his  words  did 
not  interpret  the  admiration  of  his  eyes. 

"I  asked  to  see  you,"  he  answered,  respect- 
fully, "because  I  ride  with  tidings  that  may 
touch  you.  I  am  newly  from  Cambridge." 

Brilliana's  eyes  widened. 

"What  do  you  carry  from  Cambridge?"  she 
asked;  then  swiftly  added,  "But  first,  I  pray 
you,  be  seated." 

She  pointed  to  a  chair  on  one  side  of  the 
great  table,  and  to  set  him  the  example  seated 
herself  at  another.  Halfman  bowed  and  took 
his  appointed  place,  resting  his  hat  upon  his 
knees. 

"Lady,"  he  said,  "there  was  at  Cambridge  a 
certain  Parliament  man  who  plays  at  being  a 
soldier,  and  though  he  should  be  no  more  than 

29 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

plain  master,  those  that  would  do  him  pleasure 
call  him  Captain  or  Colonel  Cromwell." 

Brilliana  frowned  a  little.  "  I  have  heard  of 
the  man,"  she  said.  "He  talks  treason  at 
Westminster;  he  is  the  King's  enemy." 

Halfman  leaned  a  little  nearer  to  her  across 
the  table  and  spoke  with  a  well-managed  air  of 
mystery. 

"  Captain  Cromwell  is  not  only  the  King's 
enemy;  he  is  also  the  enemy  of  the  Lady  Brill- 
iana Harby." 

Brilliana  shook  her  dark  head  proudly,  and 
Halfman  thought  that  her  curls  glanced  like  the 
arrows  of  Apollo. 

"  Any  enemy  of  the  King  is  an  enemy  to  me, 
but  not  he,  as  I  think,  more  than  another." 

Halfman  tapped  the  table  impressively. 

"There  you  are  mistaken,  lady,"  he  said. 
"The  man  is  very  especially  and  particularly 
your  enemy.  He  has  been  very  busy  of  late  in 
Cambridge  raising  train-bands,  capturing  college 
plate,  and  the  like  naughtinesses,  but  he  has  not 
been  so  busy  as  not  to  hear  how  the  King's  flag 
flies  unchallenged  from  the  walls  of  Harby." 

"And  shall  fly  there  so  long  as  I  live,"  Brill- 
iana interrupted,  hotly. 

Halfman  smiled  approval  of  her  heat,  yet 
shook  his  head  dubiously. 

3° 


MY   LORD   THE    LADY 

"It  shall  not  fly  long  unchallenged,"  he  con- 
tinued. "That  is  my  news.  Master  Crom- 
well— may  the  devil  fly  away  with  his  soldier's 
title — is  sending  hither  a  company  of  sour- 
faced  Puritans  to  bid  you  haul  down  your 
flag." 

Even  as  he  spoke  his  heart  glowed  at  the 
instant  effect  of  his  words  upon  the  woman. 
She  sprang  to  her  feet,  with  flaming  cheeks  and 
blazing  eyes,  and  struck  her  white  hand  upon 
the  table. 

"That  flag  flies,"  she  cried,  "for  the  honor  of 
Harby.  Whoever  challenges  the  honor  of  Har- 
by  will  find  it  a  very  dragon,  with  teeth  and 
claws  and  a  fiery  breath." 

Halfman  sprang  to  his  feet,  too,  and  gave  the 
gallant  girl  a  military  salute.  Every  fibre  of 
him  now  tingled  with  loyalty  to  the  royal  quar- 
rel; he  was  a  King's  man  through  and  through, 
had  been  so  for  sure  from  his  cradle. 

"Lady,"  he  almost  shouted,  "you  make  a 
gallant  warrior,  and  I  will  be  proud  to  serve 
you."  Seeing  the  surprise  in  her  eye,s,  he  hur- 
ried on:  "Lady,  I  am  an  old  soldier,  an  old 
sailor.  I  have  seen  hot  service  in  hot  lands; 
have  helped  to  take  towns  and  helped  to  hold 
towns,  and  if  it  be  your  pleasure,  as  it  will  be 
your  prudence,  to  avail  of  my  aid,  I  will  show 

31 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

you  how  we  can  maintain  this  place  against  an 
army." 

Brilliana  rested  her  hands  on  the  table,  and, 
leaning  forward,  looked  steadily  into  Halfman's 
face.  He  accepted  the  scrutiny  steadily;  he 
was  all  in  all  her  servant.  She  seemed  to  read 
so  much. 

"If  your  news  be  true,"  she  said,  "and  if 
you  do  not  overboast  your  skill,  why,  I  shall 
be  very  glad  of  your  aid  and  counsel." 

"Your  hand  on  that,  gallant  captain,"  clam- 
ored Half  man,  all  aflame  of  pride  and  pleasure. 
And  across  the  oaken  table  the  Lady  of  Harby 
and  the  adventurer  clasped  hands  in  compact. 


IV 
THE    LEAGUER    OF   HARBY 

HALFMAN  proved  himself  a  creditable  hench- 
man. There  was  much  to  do  and  little  time  to 
do  it  in,  for  any  hour  might  bring  news  that  the 
enemy  was  near  at  hand.  Brilliana,  as  he  told 
her  and  as  she  knew,  would  have  done  well  with- 
out him,  once  she  had  warning  of  danger,  but, 
as  she  told  him  and  as  he  knew,  she  did  very 
much  better  with  him.  There  was  no  help  to 
be  had  in  the  neighborhood,  but  by  Halfman's 
advice  a  message  was  trusted  to  a  sure  hand  to 
be  carried  to  Sir  Randolph  Harby,  of  Harby 
Lesser,  now  with  the  King,  telling  him  of  what 
was  threatened.  All  the  servants  were  assem- 
bled in  the  great  hall,  and  there  Brilliana  made 
them  a  stirring  little  speech,  to  which  Half  man 
listened  with  applauding  pulses.  She  told  them 
how  Harby  was  menaced;  she  told  them  what 
she  meant  to  do.  She  and  Captain  Halfman 
meant  to  hold  the  place  for  the  King  so  long  as 
there  was  a  place  to  hold.  But  she  would  con- 
strain none  to  stay  with  her,  and  she  offered  to 

33 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY   HOUSE 

all  who  pleased  the  choice  to  go  down  into  the 
village  and  bide  there  till  the  business  was  end- 
ed one  way  or  the  other.  Not  a  man  of  the 
little  household,  nor  a  woman,  offered  to 
budge.  Perhaps  they  did  not  care  very  much 
about  the  quarrel,  but  they  all  loved  very 
dearly  their  wild,  high-spirited  young  mistress, 
and  it  was  "God  save  Brilliana!"  they  were 
thinking  while  they  shouted  "God  save  the 
King!" 

This  was  how  it  came  to  pass  that  when  the 
hundred  men  from  Cambridge,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  Evander  Cloud,  made  an  end 
of  their  forced  march,  they  found  the  iron  gates 
of  Harby's  park  closed  against  them.  This  was 
in  itself  a  matter  of  little  moment,  needing  but 
the  united  efforts  of  half  a  dozen  stout  fellows 
to  arrange.  But  it  was  the  hint  significant  of 
more  to  follow.  The  Puritan  party  tramping 
through  the  park  was  greeted,  as  it  neared  the 
moat,  with  a  volley,  purposely  aimed  high, 
which  brought  them  to  a  halt.  The  Puritans 
eyed  grimly  a  place  whose  great  natural  strength 
had  been  most  ingeniously  increased  by  skilful 
fortification,  and  while  their  leader  advanced 
alone  and  composedly  across  the  space  between 
the  invaders  and  the  walls  of  Harby,  the  fol- 
lowers were  bale  to  note  how  all  the  windows 

34 


THE    LEAGUER   OF    HARBY 

were  barricaded  and  loop-holed,  and  how  full 
of  menace  the  ancient  place  appeared. 

Evander  Cloud  advanced  across  the  grass 
until  he  was  within  a  few  feet  of  the  moat. 
Then  an  upper  window  was  thrown  open,  its 
wooden  curtain  removed,  and  a  young,  fair  wom- 
an appeared  at  the  opening  and  quietly  asked 
of  the  Puritan  the  meaning  of  his  presence. 

Evander  Cloud  saluted  the  lady ;  he  could  see 
that  she  was  young  and  comely.  His  own  face 
was  in  shadow  and  the  chatelaine  could  not  dis- 
tinguish its  features. 

"Have  I  the  honor  to  address  the  Lady 
Brilliana  Harby?"  he  asked. 

"I  am  the  Lady  Brilliana  Harby,"  the  girl 
answered.  "  What  is  your  business  here?" 

"I  come,  madam,"  Evander  replied,  "a  ser- 
vant of  the  Parliament  and  of  the  English  peo- 
ple, to  safeguard  this  mansion  in  their  name." 

"  You  may  speak  for  the  London  Parliament," 
Brilliana  said,  firmly,  "but  I  think  you  are  too 
bold  to  speak  in  the  name  of  the  English  peo- 
ple. As  for  this  poor  house,  it  can  safeguard 
itself  very  well,  with  the  help  of  God." 

"Madam,"  responded  Evander,  "I  am  em- 
powered to  take  by  force  what  I  would  gladly 
gain  by  parley." 

"This  house  is  the  King's  house,"  Brill- 
«  35 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

iana  said,  scornfully,  "  and  does  not  yield  to 
thieves." 

"  It  is  the  King's  evil  advisers  who  have  forced 
civil  war  upon  the  land,"  Evander  replied, 
gravely.  "  And  it  is  in  the  King's  name  and  for 
the  King's  sake  that  we  would  secure  this 
stronghold." 

"Ay,"  retorted  Brilliana,  derisively.  "And 
do  the  King  honor  by  hauling  down  the  King's 
flag.  No  more  words.  This  is  Loyalty  House. 
You  have  ten  minutes  in  which  to  withdraw 
your  men.  At  .the  end  of  that  time  we  shall 
fire  again,  and  you  will  find  that  we  can  shoot 
straight.  And  so  you  may  go  to  the  devil." 

Evander  would  have  appealed  anew,  but 
with  her  last  word  Brilliana  disappeared  from 
the  window,  which  in  another  moment  was  bar- 
ricaded as  stubbornly  as  before. 

And  this  was  the  beginning  of  the  siege  of 
Harby  House. 

Mr.  Samuel  Marfleet,  in  his  "  Diurnal  of  cer- 
tain events  of  moment  happening  of  late  at 
Harby,"  is  very  eloquent  over  the  coming  of 
the  little  company.  He  sees  in  them  the  de- 
liverers from  Dagon,  the  destroyers  of  Babylon, 
and  in  sundry  heated  if  confused  allusions  to 
the  worship  of  Ashtaroth,  it  seems  certain  that 
the  indignant  school-master  was  vehemently 

36 


THE   LEAGUER   OF   HARBY 

protesting  against  the  popularity  of  Brilliana. 
He  probably  goes  too  far,  however,  when  he 
interprets  the  silence  of  Harby  villagers  as  the 
Cambridge  company  marched  through  the  main 
street  as  the  silence  too  great  for  speech  of  a 
liberated  people.  Harby  villagers  were,  for 
the  most  part,  serenely  indifferent  to  the  quar- 
rels of  the  court  and  the  Parliament,  but  they 
had  a  hearty  liking  for  Brilliana,  and  would, 
if  they  could,  very  likely  have  shown  active  re- 
sentment at  the  attack  upon  her  home.  But 
with  nobody  to  lead  them,  there  was  nothing 
for  them  to  do  but  to  stare  at  the  grave-faced 
men  in  sober  clothes  with  guns  upon  their  shoul- 
ders and  steel  upon  their  breasts  who  tramped 
along  towards  Harby  Hall.  Even  to  the  siege 
itself  they  were  perforce  indifferent,  seeing  very 
little  of  it,  for  the  parliamentary  leader  took 
care  that  none  of  them  came  into  Harby  park, 
and  did  not,  as  we  may  gather  from  occasional 
asperities  in  the  "Diurnal,"  greatly  encourage 
even  the  visits  of  Mr.  Marfleet  himself. 

The  full  chronicle  of  that  siege  does  not  con- 
cern us  here.  Those  that  are  curious  in  the 
matter  may  seek  for  ampler  information,  if  they 
will,  in  the  Marfleet  "Diurnal."  Thanks  to  its 
situation,  thanks  to  the  experience  of  adventurer 
Halfman  in  barricading  windows  and  so  loop- 

37 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

holing  them  for  musketry  as  fully  to  command 
the  moat  on  all  sides,  Harby  Hall  proved  a  hard 
nut  to  crack.  It  was  but  child's  play,  indeed, 
if  you  chose  to  compare  it  with  the  later  leaguer 
of  Lathom,  but  to  those  immediately  concerned, 
and  to  Harby  village,  all  open  mouths  and  open 
eyes,  the  business  was  a  very  Iliad.  There  was 
a  great  deal  of  powder  burned  and  but  little 
blood  shed.  The  little  Parliament  party  soon 
learned  that  there  was  no  taking  the  place  by  a 
rush  or  a  ruse,  that  it  was  discretion  to  keep  due 
distance  and  invest.  For  the  besieged,  on  the 
other  hand,  there  was  no  chance  of  a  sortie, 
their  numbers  being  so  few  and  their  provisions 
were  sorely  scarce.  If  no  one  could  for  the 
moment  get  into  Harby,  neither  could  any  one 
get  out  of  Harby. 

So  day  succeeded  day,  and  Halfman  found 
them  all  enchanted  days.  He  was  inevitably 
much  in  the  company  of  the  lady,  and  he  played 
the  part  of  an  honest  gentleman  ably.  He  made 
the  most  of  his  odd  scholarship,  of  that  part  of 
his  knowledge  of  the  world  best  likely  to  com- 
mend him  to  the  favor  of  a  gentlewoman;  his 
buccaneering  enterprises  veiled  themselves  un- 
der the  vague  phrase  of  foreign  service.  He  had 
been  in  tight  places  a  thousand  times ;  he  weigh- 
ed them  as  trifles  against  a  chance  to  win  money 

38 


THE    LEAGUER    OF    HARBY 

and  the  living  toys  that  money  can  buy.  But 
it  was  new  to  him  to  hold  a  fort  under  the  com- 
mand of  a  woman,  and  the  woman  herself  was 
the  newest,  strangest  thing  he  had  ever  known. 
Ever  the  lover  of  his  abandoned  art,  he  con- 
ceived shrewdly  enough  the  character  that 
would  not  displease  Brilliana  and  played  it  very 
consistently :  the  soldier  of  fortune  true,  but  one 
that  had  tincture  of  letters  and  would  be  a 
scholar  if  he  could.  So  the  siege  hours  were 
also  hours  of  such  companionship  as  he  had 
never  experienced,  ever  desired;  he  ripened  in 
the  sunshine  of  a  girl's  kindliness,  and  he  de- 
liberately tied,  as  it  were,  the  foul  pages  of  his 
book  of  memory  together  with  the  pink  ribbon 
of  a  girl's  garter.  He  would  have  been  content 
for  the  siege  to  last  forever.  But  the  siege  did 
not  last  forever. 


V 
A    MONSTROUS   REGIMENT 

IN  the  great  hall  at  Harby  a  motley  fellowship 
were  assembled.  If  a  stranger  from  a  strange 
land,  wafted  thither  on  some  winged  Arabian  car- 
pet or  flying  horse  of  ebony,  could  have  beheld 
the  place  and  the  company,  he  would  have  been 
hard  put  to  it  to  find  any  reasonable  explanation 
of  what  his  eyes  witnessed.  In  the  middle  of  the 
hall  some  five  singular  figures  stood  on  line :  two 
tall,  powerful  lads  with  foolish  faces,  flagrant 
farm-hands;  an  old,  bowed  man  with  the  snow 
of  many  winters  on  his  hair;  an  impish  lad  who 
might  have  welcomed  fourteen  springs;  and, 
finally,  a  rubicund,  buxom  woman  with  very 
red  cheeks,  very  blue  eyes,  very  brown  hair, 
whose  person  suggested  the  kitchen  a  league 
off.  Each  of  these  persons  handled  a  pike, 
carrying  it  at  an  angle  different  from  that  of  the 
others,  and  each  of  them  gazed  with  painfully 
attentive  stare  at  the  oaken  table  near  the 
hearth  upon  which  Hercules  Halfman  sat  learn- 
edly expounding  the  mysteries  of  the  pike  drill, 

40 


A   MONSTROUS    REGIMENT 

while  Thoroughgood  stood  between  him  and 
the  awkward  squad  to  illustrate  in  his  own  per- 
son and  with  the  pike  he  carried  the  teachings 
of  the  instructor. 

"  Order  your  pikes,"  Halfman  commanded. 
"Advance  your  pikes.  Shoulder  your  pikes." 
Then,  as  these  orders  were  obeyed  deftly  enough 
by  Thoroughgood  and  with  bewildering  variety 
by  the  others,  he  continued,  "  Trail  your  pikes," 
and  then  broke  sharply  off  to  expostulate  with 
one  of  the  farm-hands. 

"  Now,  Timothy  Garlinge,  call  you  that  trail- 
ing of  a  pike.  Why,  Gammer  Satchell  carries 
herself  more  soldierly." 

Timothy  Garlinge  grinned  loutishly  at  this  re- 
buke, but  the  fat  dame  whom  Halfman's  flour- 
ish indicated  seemed  to  dilate  with  satisfac- 
tion. 

"It  were  shame,"  she  chuckled,  "if  a  handy 
lass  could  not  better  a  lobbish  lad." 

The  impish  lad  grinned  derision. 

"Ay,"  he  commented;  "but  an  old  fool's 
best  at  her  spits  and  griddles." 

A  most  unmilitary  titter  rippled  along  the 
rank  but  broke  upon  the  rock  of  Mrs.  Satch- 
ell's  anger.  It  might  have  seemed  to  many 
that  it  were  impossible  for  the  dame's  cheeks 
to  be  any  redder,  but  Mistress  Satchell's  visage 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

showed  that  nature  could  still  work  miracles. 
With  face  a  rich  crimson  from  chin  to  forehead, 
she  made  to  hurl  herself  upon  the  leering,  fleer- 
ing mannikin,  but  was  caught  in  the  unbreak- 
able restraint  of  neighbor  Clupp's  clasp. 

"You  limb,  I'll  griddle  you!"  Mistress  Satch- 
ell  gasped,  panting  in  the  embracing  arms. 
Halfman  played  the  peace-maker  with  a  sour 
smile. 

"There,  there,  goody,"  he  expostulated; 
"  youth  will  have  its  yelp." 

He  turned  with  something  of  a  yawn  to 
Thor  oughgood . 

"  Why  a  devil  did  you  press  gossip  cook  into 
the  service?" 

Thoroughgocd  shook  his  head  protestingly. 

"Nay,  the  virago  volunteered,"  he  explained, 
with  a  look  that  seemed  to  supplement  speech 
in  the  suggestion  that  it  were  best  to  let  Mis- 
tress Satchell  have  her  own  way.  This  was 
evidently  Mistress  Satchell 's  own  view  of  the 
matter. 

"Truly,"  she  exclaimed,  "if  my  lady,  being 
no  more  than  a  woman,  is  man  enough  to  gar- 
rison her  house  against  the  Roundheads,  she 
cannot  deny  me,  that  am  no  less  than  a  woman, 
the  right  to  handle  a  pike." 

Halfman,  eying  the  dame's  assertive  rotun- 
42 


A    MONSTROUS   REGIMENT 

dities,  thought  that  he  would  be  indeed  a  quar- 
relsome fellow  who  should  deny  her  evident 
femininity. 

"You  are  a  lovely  logician,"  he  approved. 
"Enough." 

Then  resuming  his  sententious  tone  of  military 
command,  he  took  up  the  task  where  he  had 
left  it  off. 

"Trail  your  pikes." 

The  order  was  this  time  obeyed  by  the  com- 
pany with  something  approaching  resemblance 
to  the  action  of  Thoroughgood,  and  Halfman 
went  on. 

"Cheek  your  pikes." 

Out  of  the  confused  cluttering  of  weapons 
which  ensued,  Timothy  Garlinge  emerged  trem- 
ulous. 

"Please,  sir,"  he  gurgled,  "I've  forgotten 
how  to  cheek  my  pike." 

Halfman  mastered  exasperation  bravely,  as, 
taking  a  pike  from  the  hands  of  Thoroughgood, 
he  strove  to  illuminate  rusticity. 

"Use  your  pike  thus,  noddy,"  he  lessoned, 
good-naturedly,  wielding  the  weapon  with  the 
skill  of  a  practised  pikeman.  But  the  illustra- 
tion was  as  much  lost  upon  Garlinge  as  the  orig- 
inal command,  and  in  his  attempt  to  imitate  it 
he  whirled  his  arm  so  recklessly  that  his  com- 

43 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

panions  scattered  in  dismay,  and  Halfman  him- 
self was  fain  to  move  a  step  or  two  backward 
to  avoid  the  yokel's  meaningless  sweeps. 

"Have  a  care,"  he  cried.  "If  you  work  so 
wild  you  will  damage  your  company." 

Mrs.  Satchell,  taking  her  post  in  the  now  re- 
stored line,  shook  her  red  fist  at  the  delinquent. 

"He  had  best  not  damage  me,"  she  thun- 
dered, "or  I'll  damage  him  to  some  purpose." 

"  Silence  in  the  ranks!"  Halfman  commanded, 
sharply.  "Charge  your  pikes,"  he  ordered. 

This  order  was  obeyed  indifferently  and  tame- 
ly enough  by  all  save  the  egregious  Mrs.  Satchell, 
who  delivered  so  lusty  a  thrust  with  her  weapon 
that  Halfman  was  obliged  to  skip  back  briskly 
to  avoid  bringing  his  breast  acquainted  with 
her  steel. 

"Nay,  woman,  warily!"  he  shouted,  half 
laughing,  half  angry.  "Play  your  play  more 
tamely.  I  am  no  rascally  Roundhead." 

Mrs.  Satchell  grounded  her  weapon  and  wiped 
the  sweat  from  her  shining  forehead  with  the 
back  of  her  red  hand.  There  was  a  deadly 
earnest  in  her  eyes,  a  deadly  earnest  in  her 
speech. 

"  I  cry  you  mercy,"  she  panted.  "  But  I  am 
a  whole-hearted  woman,  and  when  you  bid  me 
charge  I  am  all  for  charging." 

44 


A   MONSTROUS  REGIMENT 

Halfman  did  his  best  to  muffle  amusement 
in  a  reproving  frown.  "Limit  your  zeal  dis- 
creetly," he  urged,  and  was  again  the  drill  ser- 
geant. 

"Shoulder  your  pikes." 

The  weapons  followed  the  words  with  some 
show  of  decorum. 

"  Comport  your  pikes." 

Again  the  evolution  was  carried  out  with 
some  degree  of  accuracy. 

"Port  your  pikes." 

Here  all  followed  the  word  of  command  fairly 
well  with  the  exception  of  Garlinge's  fellow- 
rustic,  who  simply  strove  to  repeat  the  order 
already  executed.  Halfman  turned  upon  him 
sharply. 

"  Now,  Clupp,"  he  cried,  "  will  you  never  learn 
the  difference  between  port  and  comport?" 

Clupp,  the  fellow  addressed,  bashful  at  find- 
ing himself  the  object  of  attention,  swayed  back- 
ward and  forward  with  his  pikestaff  for  a  pivot, 
laughing  vacantly. 

"No,  sir,"  he  gaped,  stupidly.  Master  Half- 
man's  lip  wrinkled  menacingly,  and  he  reached 
his  hand  to  his  staff  that  lay  upon  the  table. 

"Indeed!"  he  said.  "Then  I  must  ask  Mas- 
ter Crabtree  Cudgel  to  lesson  you." 

He  advanced  threateningly  towards  the  terri- 

45 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

fied  fellow,  but  long  before  he  could  reach  him 
Dame  Satchell  had  interposed  her  generous  bulk 
between  officer  and  private,  not,  however,  as 
was  soon  shown,  from  any  desire  to  intercede 
for  the  culprit. 

"Leave  him  to  me,  sir,"  she  entreated,  ve- 
hemently. "  If  you  love  me,  leave  him  to 
me." 

And,  indeed,  her  angry  eyes  shone  warranty 
that  the  offender  would  fare  badly  at  her  hands. 
Halfman  waved  her  aside  with  a  gesture  of  im- 
patience. 

"Mistress  Satchell,"  he  protested,  "you  are 
a  valiant  woman,  but  a  rampant  amazon." 

Dame  Satchell 's  cheeks  glowed  a  deeper  crim- 
son, and  her  variable  anger  raged  from  Clupp  to 
Halfman. 

"Call  me  no  names,"  she  squalled,  "though 
you  do  call  yourself  captain,  or  I'll  call  you  the 
son  of  a— 

However  Mistress  Satchell  intended  to  finish 
her  objurgation  it  was  not  given  to  the  company 
to  learn,  for  Halfman  tripped  up  her  speech  with 
a  nimble  interruption. 

"The  son  of  a  pike,  so  please  you,"  he  sug- 
gested, with  a  smile  that  softened  the  virago's 
heart.  ;<  There,  we  have  toiled  enough  to-day 
and  it  tests  our  tempers.  Dismiss." 

46 


A    MONSTROUS   REGIMENT 

This  command  he  addressed  to  the  whole  of 
his  amazing  company ;  to  Dame  Satchell  he  gave 
a  congee  with  a  more  than  Spanish  flourish: 
"To  your  pots  and  pans,  valorous." 

Dame  Satchell,  mollified  by  his  compliment, 
shrugged  her  fat  shoulders.  "  'Tis  little  enough 
I  have  to  put  in  them,"  she  grumbled.  "  Roast 
or  boiled,  boiled,  fried,  or  larded,  all's  one, 
all's  none.  We'll  be  mumbling  shoe-leather 
soon." 

She  sighed  heavily  at  the  thought,  and  moved 
slowly  towards  the  door  at  the  end  of  the  hall 
beneath  the  gallery.  Halfman,  unheeding  her, 
had  turned  to  the  table  and  was  intently  poring 
over  the  large  map  that  lay  there  together  with 
a  loaded  pistol.  Thoroughgood  gave  orders  to 
the  men. 

"  Garlinge  and  Clupp,  go  scour  the  pikes.  Tom 
Cropper,  find  something  to  keep  you  out  of  mis- 
chief. As  for  you,  Gaffer  Shard,  you  may  rest 
awhile." 

The  old  man  shook  his  frosty  head  vigorously. 
"  Nay,  nay,"  he  piped,  "  I  need  no  rest.  My  old 
bones  are  loyal  and  cannot  tire  in  a  good  cause. 
God  save  the  King." 

He  gave  a  shrill  cheer  which  was  echoed 
loudly  by  men  and  boy,  and  so  cheering  they 
tramped  out  of  the  hall  in  the  trail  of  Mother 

47 


THE    LADY   OF   LOYALTY   HOUSE 

Satchell,  Garlinge  staggering  under  the  load  of 
pikes  which  the  lad  had  officiously  foisted  on  to 
his  shoulder,  Clupp  laughing  vacantly  after  his 
manner,  and  steadfast  old  Shard  waving  his  red 
cap  and  chirping  his  shrill  huzzas. 


VI 

HOW    WILL   ALL   END? 

WHEN  they  had  all  gone  and  the  hall  was  quiet, 
Thoroughgood  came  slowly  down  with  a  puz- 
zled frown  on  his  honest,  weather-beaten  face  to 
where  Halfman  humped  over  his  map. 

"Where's  the  good  of  drilling  clowns  and 
cooks?"  he  asked,  surlily.  He  talked  like  one 
thoroughly  weary,  but  his  mood  of  weariness 
seemed  to  melt  before  the  sunshine  of  Half- 
man's  smile  as  he  lifted  his  head  from  the  map. 

"  Where's  the  harm  ?"  he  countered.  "  'Twas 
my  lady's  idea  to  keep  their  spirits  up,  and,  by 
God !  it  was  a  good  thought.  She  knows  how  it 
heartens  folk  to  play  a  great  part  in  a  great  busi- 
ness :  keeps  them  from  feeling  the  fingers  of  fam- 
ine in  their  inwards,  keeps  them  from  whining, 
repining,  declining,  what  you  will.  But  I  own 
I  did  not  count  on  the  presence  of  Gammer  Cook 
in  the  by-play.". 

"  I  could  not  see  why  she  should  be  kept  out 
of  the  mummery,"  Thoroughgood  responded, 
"if  she  had  a  mind  for  the  masking." 

49 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"Perhaps  you  are  right,"  Halfman  answered, 
meditatively.  "  My  lady's  example  would  make 
a  Hippolyte  of  any  housemaid  of  them  all." 

"  I  do  not  know  what  it  would  make  of  them," 
Thoroughgood  answered;  "but  I  know  this, 
that  it  matters  very  little  now." 

Halfman  swung  round  on  his  seat  and  stared 
at  him  curiously. 

"Why?"  he  asked. 

"Now  that  this  truce  is  called,"  Thorough- 
good  answered,  "that  the  Roundhead  captain 
may  have  speech  with  my  lady." 

"Why,  what  then?"  questioned  Halfman, 
with  his  eyes  so  fixed  on  Thoroughgood 's  that 
Thoroughgood,  dogged  as  he  was,  averted  his 
gaze. 

"Naught's  left  but  surrender,"  he  grunted, 
between  his  teeth.  The  words  came  thickly, 
but  Halfman  heard  them  clearly.  He  raised 
his  right  hand  for  a  moment  as  if  he  had  a 
thought  to  strike  his  companion,  but  then,  chang- 
ing his  temper,  he  let  it  fall  idly  upon  his  knee 
as  he  surveyed  Thoroughgood  with  a  look  that 
half  disdained,  half  pitied. 

"My  lady  will  never  surrender,"  he  said, 
quietly,  with  the  quiet  of  a  man  who  enunciates 
a  mathematical  axiom.  "  You  know  that  well 
enough." 

50 


HOW    WILL   ALL    END? 

Thoroughgood  shrugged  plaintive,  protesting 
shoulders. 

"We've  stood  this  siege  for  many  days,"  he 
muttered.  "Food  is  running  out;  powder  is 
running  out.  Even  the  Lady  Brilliana  cannot 
work  miracles." 

Half  man  rose  to  his  feet.  His  eyes  were 
shining  and  he  pressed  his  clinched  hands  to 
his  breast  like  a  man  in  adoration. 

"  The  Lady  Brilliana  can  work  miracles,  does 
work  miracles  daily.  Is  it  no  miracle  that  she 
has  held  this  castle  all  these  hours  and  days 
against  this  rebel  leaguer?  Is  it  no  miracle 
that  she  has  poured  the  spirit  of  chivalry  into 
scullions  and  farm-hands  and  cook-wenches  so 
that  not  a  Jack  or  Jill  of  them  but  would  lose 
bright  life  blithely  for  her  and  the  King  and  God  ? 
Is  it  not  a  miracle  that  she  has  transmuted,  by 
a  change  more  amazing  than  anything  Master 
Ovid  hath  recorded  in  his  Metamorphoses,  a 
villanous  old  land-devil  and  sea-devil  like  my- 
self into  a  passionate  partisan  ?  But  what  of 
me?  God  bless  her!  She  is  my  lady-angel,  and 
her  will  is  my  will  to  the  end  of  the  chapter." 

He  dropped  in  his  chair  again  as  if  exhausted 
by  the  vehemence  of  his  words  and  the  emotion 
which  prompted  them.  Thoroughgood  con- 
templated him  sourly. 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

'You  prate  like  a  play-actor,"  he  snarled. 
Half  man's  whole  being  flashed  into  activity 
again.  He  was  no  more  a  sentimentalist  but 
now  a  roaring  ranter. 

"  Because  I  was  a  play-actor  once,"  he  shout- 
ed, "when  I  was  a  sweet-and-twenty  young- 
ling." 

Thoroughgood  eyed  Halfman  with  a  sudden 
air  of  distrust. 

"You  never  told  me  you  were  a  play-actor," 
he  growled.  '  You  spoke  only  of  soldiering." 

Halfman  laughed  flagrantly  in  his  face. 

"Godamercy,  man,  there  has  been  scant  time 
to  tell  you  my  life's  story.  We  have  had  other 
cats  to  whip.  Yes,  I  was  a  play-actor  once,  and 
played  for  great  poets,  for  men  whose  names 
have  never  tickled  your  ears.  But  the  owl- 
public  would  have  none  of  me,  and,  owllike, 
hooted  me  off  the  boards.  But  I've  had  my 
revenge  of  them.  I've  played  a  devil's  part 
on  the  devil's  stage  for  thirty  red  years.  Nunc 
Plaudite." 

The  Latin  tag  dropped  dead  at  the  porches  of 
John  Thoroughgood 's  ears,  but  those  ears 
pricked  at  part  of  Half  man's  declamation. 

"What  kind  of  parts?"  he  asked,  drawing  a 
little  nearer  to  the  soldier  of  fortune,  whose  ex- 
periences fascinated  his  inexperience. 

52 


HOW    WILL    ALL   END? 

Half  man  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  favored 
honest  Thoroughgood  with  a  bantering,  quiz- 
zical smile. 

"All  kinds  of  parts,"  he  answered.  "How 
does  the  old  puzzle  run  ?  Tinker,  tailor,  soldier, 
sailor,  ploughboy,  gentleman,  thief.  I  think 
I  have  played  all  those  parts,  and  others,  too. 
Fling  beggar  and  pirate  into  the  dish.  But  I  tell 
you  this,  honest  John,  I  have  never  played  a 
part  so  dear  to  me  as  that  of  captain  to  this 
divine  commander.  I  thank  my  extravagant 
stars  that  steered  me  home  to  serve  her." 

"  You  cannot  sing  her  praises  too  sweetly  for 
my  ears, ' '  Thoroughgood  answered.  "  But  there 
is  an  end  to  all  things,  and  it  looks  to  me  as  if 
we  were  mighty  near  to  an  end  of  the  siege  of 
Harby.  Why  else  should  there  be  a  truce  called 
that  the  Roundhead  captain  may  have  speech 
with  my  lady." 

"Honest  John  Thoroughgood,"  Half  man  an- 
swered, with  great  composure,  "you  are  not  so 
wise  as  you  think.  This  Roundhead  captain 
has  sent  us  hither  the  most  passionate  pleadings 
to  be  admitted  to  parley.  Why  deny  him  ?  It 
will  advantage  him  no  jot,  but  it  is  possible  we 
may  learn  from  the  leakage  of  his  lips  some- 
thing at  least  of  what  is  going  on  in  the 
world." 

53 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"  What  is  there  to  learn  ?'.'  asked  Thorough- 
good.  Halfman  shook  his  head  reprovingly. 

"Why,  for  my  part,  I  should  like  to  learn 
why  in  all  this  great  gap  of  time  nothing  has 
been  done  to  help  one  side  or  the  other.  If  the 
gentry  of  Harby  have  made  no  effort  to  relieve 
us,  neither,  on  the  other  hand,  has  our  leaguer 
been  augmented  by  any  reinforcements.  If 
my  lady  has  been  surprised  that  Sir  Blaise 
Mickleton  has  made  no  show  of  coming  to  her 
succor,  I,  for  my  part,  am  woundily  surprised 
that  the  Cropheads  of  Cambridge  have  sent  no 
further  levies  for  our  undoing." 

"  Why,  for  that  matter—  '  Thoroughgood  be- 
gan, and  then  suddenly  broke  off.  "  Here  comes 
my  lady,"  he  said,  turning  and  standing  in  an 
attitude  of  respectful  attention. 

Halfman  had  known  of  her  coming  before  his 
companion  spoke.  The  Lady  Brilliana  had 
come  out  on  to  the  gallery  from  the  door  near 
the  head  of  the  stairway,  and  Halfman  was  con- 
scious of  her  presence  before  he  lifted  his  eyes 
and  looked  at  her.  She  was  not  habited  now, 
as  on  the  day  when  he  first  beheld  her,  in  her 
riding-robe  of  green,  but  in  a  simple  house-gown 
chosen  for  the  ease  and  freedom  it  allowed  to  a 
great  lady  who  had  suddenly  found  that  she  had 
much  to  do.  The  color  of  the  stuff,  a  crimson, 

54 


HOW    WILL    ALL    END? 

as  being  a  royal,  loyal  color,  well  became  her 
fine  skin  and  her  dark  curls  and  her  bright,  im- 
perious eyes.  She  was  followed  by  her  serving- 
woman,  Tiffany,  a  merry  girl  that  Thorough- 
good  adored,  and  one  that  would  in  days  gone 
over  have  been  likely  to  tickle  the  easy  whim- 
sies of  Half  man.  Now  he  had  no  eyes,  no 
thoughts,  save  for  her  mistress,  the  lass  unpar- 
alleled. 

Brilliana  was  speaking  to  Tiffany  even  as  she 
entered  the  gallery. 

"Strip  more  lint,  Tiffany,"  she  ordered; 
"and  bid  Andrew  be  brisk  with  the  charcoal." 

Her  voice  was  as  buoyant  as  the  song  of  a 
free  bird,  and  her  step  on  the  stair  as  light  as  if 
there  were  no  such  thing  in  the  world  as  a 
leaguer.  Tiffany  crossed  the  gallery  and  dis- 
appeared through  the  opposite  door.  Brilliana, 
as  she  descended  the  stair,  diverted  her  speech 
to  Thoroughgood. 

"John  Thoroughgood,  I  saw  from  the  lattice 
our  envoys  bringing  the  Parliament  man  down 
the  elm  walk.  To  them  at  once.  They  must 
not  unhood  their  hawk  till  he  come  to  our  pres- 
ence." 


VII 
MISTRESS    AND    MAN 

WHEN  Thoroughgood  had  left  the  hall  and 
Brilliana  came  to  the  floor,  Halfman  questioned 
her,  very  respectfully,  but  still  with  the  air  of  one 
who  has  earned  the  friendly  right  to  put  ques- 
tions. 

"  Why  do  you  see  this  black-jack  ?"  he  asked. 
Brilliana  smiled  at  him  as  radiantly  as  if  the 
holding  of  a  house  against  armed  enemies  was 
the  properest,  pleasantest  business  imagin- 
able. 

"With  the  littlest  good- will  in  the  world,  I 
promise  you,"  she  answered.  "  But,  you  know, 
he  so  plagued  for  the  parley  that  it  was  easier 
to  try  him  than  deny  him.  Besides,  good 
friend  and  captain,  I  learn  from  what  I  read  in 
Master  Froissart's  Chronicles  that  it  were  neither 
customary  nor  courteous  to  deny  conference  to 
a  supplicating  enemy." 

Halfman  adored  her  for  her  courage,  for  her 
calm  assumption  of  success. 

"  How  if  he  but  come  to  spy  out  our  strate- 

56 


MISTRESS   AND    MAN 

gies?"  he  asked.      'The  leanness  of  our  larder? 
Our  empty  bandoliers?" 

Brilliana  beamed  back  at  him  with  her  be- 
wildering confidence. 

"  I  have  thought  of  that,  too,"  she  admitted. 
"  But  he  shall  not  find  us  at  our  wit's-end.  Seek 
Simon  Butler,  friend  captain.  Though  our  cel- 
lars are  near  empty  he  will  make  shift  to  find 
you  some  full  flagons.  Bring  hither  a  bunch 
of  your  subalterns,  the  rosiest,  the  most  jovial, 
if  any  still  carry  such  colors  and  boast  such  spir- 
it; let  them  gather  in  the  banqueting -hall, 
where,  with  such  wit  as  French  wine  can  give, 
let  them  sing  as  if  they  were  merry  and  well 
fed.  Our  sanctimonious  spy-out- the-nakedness- 
of-the-land  must  think  we  are  well  victualled, 
he  must  think  we  are  well  mannered." 

Halfman  made  her  a  sweeping  reverence 
which  was  not  without  its  play-actor's  grace, 
though  its  honesty  might  have  pardoned  a 
greater  awkwardness. 

"We  are  well  womaned,  lady,"  he  assever- 
ated, "  with  you  for  our  leader.  By  sea  and  by 
land  I  have  served  some  great  captains,  but 
never  one  greater  than  you  for  constancy  and 
manly  valor." 

Brilliana's  bright  face  took  a  swift  look  of 
gravity  and  she  gave  a  little  sigh. 

57 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

;'  The  King's  cause,"  she  said,  soberly,  "  might 
turn  a  child  into  a  champion." 

The  steady  loyalty  that  made  her  words  at 
once  a  psalm  and  a  battle-cry  bade  Halfman's 
pulses  tingle.  Who  could  be  found  unfaithful 
where  this  fair  maid  was  so  faithful  ?  Yet  he 
remembered  their  isolation  and  the  memory 
made  him  speak. 

"  I  marvel  that  none  of  your  neighbors  have 
tried  to  lend  us  a  hand?" 

"How  could  they?"  Brilliana  asked,  astonish- 
ed. "  The  brave  are  with  the  King  at  Shrews- 
bury; the  stay-at-homes  are  not  fighters." 

"Hum,"  commented  Halfman.  "What  of 
Master  Paul  Hungerford?" 

Brilliana  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"A  miserly  daw,  who  would  not  risk  a  crown 
to  save  the  crown." 

Halfman  questioned  again. 

"What  of  Master  Peter  Rainham?" 

Brilliana  shrugged  again. 

"A  dull,  sullen  skinflint  waiting  on  event." 

Halfman's  inventory  was  not  complete. 

"You  have  yet  a  third  neighbor,"  he  said, 
"and,  as  I  heard,  a  prodigal  in  protestation. 
What  of  Sir  Blaise  Mickleton?" 

Brilliana's  lips  twitched  with  a  derisive 
smile. 

58 


MISTRESS   AND    MAN 

"Sir  Blaise,  honest  gentleman,  loves  good 
cheer  and  good  ease.  I  think  he  would  not  quit 
the  board  if  Armageddon  were  towards.  He 
will  be  for  eating,  he  will  be  for  drinking,  he  will 
be  for  sleeping,  and  in  the  mean  time  God's 
chosen  gentlemen  have  learned  the  value  of 
living  so  long  as  to  grant  them  a  death  for  their 
King." 

Her  voice  had  risen  to  a  cry  of  defiance,  but 
now  it  dropped  again  to  its  former  note  of  ban- 
tering irony. 

"What  a  wonderful  world  it  is  which  can 
hold  at  once  such  men  as  my  cousin  Randolph 
or  you  or  Rufus  Quaryll  and  these  hangbacks 
who  shame  Harby.  These  three  are  professed 
my  very  good  suitors,  but  they  have  made  no 
move  to  our  help.  Well,  let  them  hang  for  a 
tray  of  knaves.  We  need  them  not.  We  know 
that  the  King's  cause  must  triumph  and  so  we 
are  wise  to  be  blithe." 

Halfman's  head  was  swinging  with  pleasure. 
She  had  counted  him  in  so  glibly  with  the 
chosen  ones,  with  the  servants  of  God  and  the 
King.  He  was  very  sure  now  that  his  watch- 
word had  always  been  "God  and  the  King." 

"  The  King's  cause  must  triumph,"  he  echoed, 
his  face  shining  with  loyal  confidence. 

"  How  we  shall  all  smile  a  year  hence,"  Brill- 

59 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

iana  answered,  "  to  think  that  such  pitiful  rebels 
vexed  us.  But  for  the  moment  there  is  one  of 
these  same  rebels  to  be  faced — and  to  be  fooled. 
About  our  plan,  good  captain." 

Halfman  saluted  her  more  enthusiastically 
than  he  had  ever  saluted  male  commander. 

"My  general,"  he  vowed,  "he  shall  think 
these  walls  hold  an  army  of  wassaillers." 

He  turned  on  his  heel  and  marched  briskly 
out  of  the  hall.  Brilliana  looked  after  him,  with 
the  bright  smile  on  her  face,  till  the  door  of  the 
banqueting  -  hall  closed  behind  him;  then  the 
smile  slowly  faded  from  her  face. 

"  I  would  my  spirits  were  as  blithe  as  my 
speech,"  she  thought,  as  she  went  to  the  table 
and  bent  over  it,  looking  at  the  open  map  which 
Halfman  had  been  studying. 

"What  is  going  on  in  England,  the  King's 
England,  little  England,  that  should  not  be  big 
enough  to  have  any  room  for  traitors?" 

She  put  her  finger  on  the  spot  where  Harby 
figured  on  the  sheet. 

"Here,"  she  mused,  "we  have  been  sundered 
from  the  world  for  all  these  days  by  this  Round- 
head leaguer,  hearing  no  outside  news  but  the 
ring  of  rebel  shots  and  the  sound  of  rebel  voices. 
What  has  happened  ?  What  is  happening  ?  When 
we  began  the  King  was  at  Shrewsbury  and  the 

60 


MISTRESS   AND    MAN 

Parliament  ruled  London.  What  has  come  to 
the  Parliament  since?  What  has  come  to  the 
King?  Well,  Loyalty  House  will  carry  the 
King's  flag  so  long  as  one  stone  tops  another. 
We  will  live  as  long  as  we  can  for  his  Majesty, 
and  then  die  for  him  gamely." 


VIII 
THE    ENVOY 

A  SOUND  of  heavy  steps  disturbed  her  medi- 
tations. She  stood  up  from  her  map,  blinked 
down  the  tears  that  tried  to  rise,  and  turned  to 
face  new  fortune. 

"  Here  is  our  enemy,"  she  said  to  herself,  and 
she  forced  back  the  confident  color  to  her  cheeks, 
the  confident  light  to  her  eyes.  The  door  from 
the  park  opened,  and  John  Thoroughgood  en- 
tered the  room,  holding  by  the  hand  a  man  in 
the  staid  habit  of  a  Puritan  soldier,  whose  eyes 
were  muffled  by  a  folded  scarf  of  silk.  Blind- 
folded though  he  was,  the  Puritan  followed  his 
guide  with  a  steady  and  resolute  step. 

"Halt!"  cried  Thoroughgood.  The  stranger 
stood  quietly  as  if  on  parade,  while  Thorough- 
good  saluted  his  mistress. 

"  Unhood  your  hawk,"  Brilliana  ordered. 
Thoroughgood,  obedient,  unpicked  the  knot  of 
the  handkerchief,  revealing  his  companion's 
face.  Brilliana  observed  with  a  hostile  curi- 
osity a  tallish,  well-set,  comely  man  of  about 

62 


THE    ENVOY 

thirty  years  of  age,  whose  smooth,  well-featured 
face  asserted  high  breeding  and  a  gravity  which 
deepened  into  melancholy  in  the  dark  expres- 
sive eyes  and  lightened  into  lines  of  humor  about 
the  fine,  firm  mouth.  For  a  moment,  with  the 
removal  of  the  muffle,  he  seemed  dazzled  by 
the  change  from  dark  to  light;  then,  as  com- 
mand of  his  vision  returned,  he  observed  Brill- 
iana  and  made  her  a  courteous  salutation  which 
she  returned  coldly.  She  made  a  gesture  of  dis- 
missal to  Thoroughgood,  who  went  out,  and  the 
Lady  of  Loyalty  was  left  alone  with  her  enemy. 

There  was  a  moment's  silence  as  the  pair  faced 
each  other,  the  man  quietly  discreet,  the  woman 
openly  scornful.  She  was  under  the  same  roof 
with  a  rebel  in  arms,  and  the  thought  sickened 
her.  She  broke  the  silence. 

"  You  petitioned  to  see  me. ' '  With  the  sound 
of  her  voice  she  found  new  vehemence,  new  in- 
dignation. "  Do  your  rebels  offer  unconditional 
surrender?" 

The  circumstances  of  the  astonishing  question 
brought  for  the  moment  a  slight  smile  to  the 
grave  face  of  the  Parliament  man. 

"It  was  scarcely  with  that  thought,"  he  an- 
swered, "that  I  sought  for  a  parley." 

Though  the  man's  smile  had  been  short-lived, 
Brilliana  had  seen  it  and  loathed  him  for  it. 

63 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY   HOUSE 

Though  the  man's  manner  was  suave,  it  seemed 
to  wear  the  suavity  of  success  and  she  loathed 
him  for  that,  too. 

"We  waste  time,"  she  cried,  impatiently, 
"with  any  other  business  than  your  swift  sub- 
mission." 

Then  as  she  saw  him  make  an  amiably  pro- 
testing gesture  she  raged  at  him  with  a  rising 
voice. 

"  Oh,  if  you  knew  how  hard  it  is  for  me  to 
stand  in  the  same  room  with  a  renegade  traitor 
you  would,  if  such  as  you  remember  courtesy, 
be  brief  in  your  errand." 

The  man  showed  no  consciousness  of  the  in- 
sult in  her  wTords  and  in  her  manner  save  than 
by  a  courteous  inclination  of  the  head  and  a 
few  words  of  quiet  speech. 

"  Much  may  be  pardoned  to  so  brave  a 
lady." 

Brilliana  struck  her  hand  angrily  upon  the 
table  once  and  again. 

"For  God's  sake  do  not  praise  me!"  she  al- 
most screamed,  "  or  I  shall  hate  myself.  Your 
errand,  your  errand,  your  errand!" 

The  enemy  was  provokingly  imperturbable. 

"  You  have  a  high  spirit,"  he  said,  "  that  must 
compel  admiration  from  all.  That  is  why  I 
would  persuade  you  to  wisdom.  I  came  hither 

64 


THE    ENVOY 

from   Cambridge   by    order   of   Colonel   Crom- 
well." 

Brilliana's  lips  tightened  at  the  sound  of  the 
name  which  the  envoy  pronounced  with  so  much 
reverence. 

"The  rebel  member  for  Cambridge,"  she 
sneered—  "the  mutinous  brewer.  Are  you  a 
vassal  of  the  man  of  beer?" 

There  was  a  quiet  note  of  protest  in  the  reply 
of  the  envoy. 

"Colonel  Cromwell  is  not  a  brewer,  though 
he  would  be  no  worse  a  man  if  he  were.  I  am 
honored  in  his  friendship,  in  his  service.  He  is 
a  great  man  and  a  great  Englishman." 

"And  what,"  Brilliana  asked,  "has  this  great 
man  to  do  with  Harby  that  he  sends  you  here?" 

"He  sends  me  here,"  the  Puritan  answered, 
"to  haul  down  your  flag." 

"That  you  shall  never  do,"  Brilliana  an- 
swered, steadily,  "while  there  is  a  living  soul  in 
Harby." 

The  Puritan  protested  with  appealing  hands. 

'  You  are  in  the  last  straits  for  lack  of  food, 
for  lack  of  fuel,  for  lack  of  powder." 

Brilliana  made  a  passionate  gesture  of  denial. 

'You  are  as  ignorant  as  insolent,"  she  as- 
serted. "  Loyalty  House  lacks  neither  provisions 
nor  munitions  of  war." 

65 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

There  was  a  kind  of  respectful  pity  in  the 
stranger's  face  as  he  watched  the  wild,  bright 
girl  and  hearkened  to  the  vain,  brave  words. 

"  Nay,  now—  "  he  began,  out  of  the  conscious- 
ness of  his  own  truer  knowledge,  but  what  he 
would  have  said  was  furiously  interrupted  by  a 
volume  of  strange  sounds  from  the  adjoining 
ban que ting-hall.  There  was  a  rattle  and  clink 
as  of  many  pewter  mugs  banged  lustily  upon 
an  oaken  table ;  there  was  a  shrill  explosion  of 
laughter,  the  work  of  many  merry  voices ;  there 
was  the  grinding  noise  of  heavy  chairs  pushed 
back  across  the  floor  for  the  greater  ease  of  their 
occupants ;  there  was  a  tapping  as  of  pipe-bowls 
on  the  board,  and  then  over  all  the  mingled  din 
rose  a  voice,  which  Brilliana  knew  for  the  voice 
of  Half  man,  ringing  out  a  resonant  appeal. 

"The  King's  health,  friends,  to  begin  with." 

All  the  noises  that  had  died  down  to  allow 
Halfman  a  hearing  began  again  with  fresh  vigor. 
It  was  obvious  to  the  most  unsophisticated 
listener  that  here  was  the  fag  end  of  a  feast  and 
the  moment  for  the  genial  giving  of  toasts. 
Many  voices  swelled  a  loyal  chorus  of  "  The 
King,  the  King!"  and  had  the  great  doors  of 
the  banqueting-hall  been  no  other  than  bright 
glass  it  would  have  been  scarce  easier  for  the 
man  and  woman  in  the  great  hall  to  realize 

66 


THE    ENVOY 

what  was  happening,  the  revellers  rising  to 
their  feet,  the  drinking  -  vessels  lifted/?  high  in 
air  with  loyal  vociferations,  and  then  the  si- 
lence, eloquent  of  tilted  mugs  and  the  running 
of  welcome  liquor  down  the  channels  of  thirsty 
throats.  This  silence  was  broken  by  some  one 
calling  for  a  song,  to  which  call  he  who  had  pro- 
posed the  King's  health  answered  instantly  and 
with  evident  satisfaction.  His  rich  if  somewhat 
rough  voice  came  booming  through  the  parti- 
tions, carolling  a  ballad  to  which  the  Puritan 
listened  with  a  perfectly  unmoved  countenance, 
while  the  Lady  Brilliana's  eager  face  expressed 
every  signal  of  the  liveliest  delight. 

This   was   the    song   that   came    across   the 
threshold : 

"What  creature's  this  with  his  short  hairs, 
His  little  band  and  huge  long  ears, 

That  this  new  faith  hath  founded? 
The  Puritans  were  never  such, 
The  saints  themselves  had  ne'er  so  much, 
Oh,  such  a  knave's  a  Roundhead." 

A  yell  of  pleasure  followed  this  verse,  and  a 
tuneless  chorus  thundered  the  refrain,  "Oh, 
such  a  knave's  a  Roundhead,"  with  the  most 
evident  relish  for  the  sentiments  of  the  song. 
Brilliana  looked  with  some  impatience  at  the 
6  67 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

unruffled  face  of  her  adversary,  and  when  the 
immediate  clamor  dwindled  she  addressed  him, 
sarcastically : 

"These  revellers,"  she  said,  "would  not  seem 
to  be  at  the  last  extremity.  But  their  festival 
must  not  deafen  our  conference." 

She  advanced  to  the  door  of  the  banqueting- 
room  and  struck  against  it  with  her  hand.  On 
the  instant  silence  she  opened  the  door  a  little 
way  and  spoke  through  softly,  as  if  gently  chid- 
ing those  within. 

"  Be  merry  more  gently,  friends.  Sure,  I 
cannot  hear  the  gentleman  speak.  Though," 
she  added,  reflectively,  as  she  closed  the  door 
and  returned  again  to  the  table  she  had  quitted 
— "  though  God  knows  he  talks  big  enough." 

The  Puritan  clapped  his  palms  together  as  if 
in  applause,  an  action  that  somewhat  amazed 
her  in  him,  while  a  kindly  humor  kindled  in  his 
eyes. 

"Bravely  staged,  bravely  played,"  he  ad- 
mitted, while  he  shook  his  head.  "  But  it  will 
not  serve  your  turn,  for  it  may  not  deceive  me. 
I  had  a  message  this  morning  from  my  Lord 
Essex.  There  has  been  hot  fighting;  Heaven 
has  given  us  the  victory;  the  King's  cause  is 
wellnigh  lost  at  the  first  push." 

Brilliana  felt  her  heart  drumming  against  her 

68 


THE   ENVOY 

stays,  but  she  turned  a  defiant  face  on  the  news- 
monger. 

"  I  do  not  believe  you,"  she  answered.  "The 
King's  cause  will  always  win." 

The  soldier  took  no  notice  of  her  denial;  he 
felt  too  sure  of  his  fact  to  hold  other  than  pity 
for  the  leaguered  lady.  He  quietly  added : 

"  My  Lord  Essex  advises  me  further  that  re- 
inforcements are  marching  to  me  well  equipped 
with  artillery  against  which  even  these  gallant 
walls  are  worthless.  Be  warned,  be  wise. 
You  cannot  hope  to  hold  out  longer.  For  pity's 
sake,  yield  to  the  Parliament." 

Brilliana  waved  his  pleas  away  with  a  dainty, 
impatient  flourish. 

"You  chatter  republican  vainly.  I  have 
store  of  powder.  I  will  blow  this  old  hall 
heaven  high  when  I  can  no  longer  hold  it  for 
the  King." 

Her  visitor  looked  at  her  sadly,  made  as  if 
to  speak,  paused,  and  then  appeared  to  force 
himself  to  reluctant  utterance. 

"Lady,"  he  said,  slowly,  "though  we  be 
opponents,  we  share  the  same  blood.  Let  a 
kinsman  entreat  you  to  reason." 

If  the  civil-spoken  stranger  had  struck  her  in 
the  face  with  his  glove  Brilliana  could  not  have 
been  more  astonished  or  angered.  She  moved 

69 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

a  little  nearer  to  him,  interrogation  in  her  shin- 
ing eyes  and  on  her  angry  cheeks. 

"Are  you  mad?"  she  gasped.  "How  could 
such  a  thing  as  you  be  my  kinsman?" 

She  had  taunted  him  again  and  again  during 
their  brief  interview  and  he  had  shown  no  sign 
of  displeasure.  He  showed  no  sign  of  dis- 
pleasure now,  answering  her  with  simple  dig- 
nity. 

"Very  simply.  A  lady  of  your  race,  your 
grandsire's  sister,  married  a  poor  gentleman  of 
my  name  and  was  my  father's  mother." 

Brilliana  drew  back  a  little  as  if  she  had  in- 
deed received  a  blow.  Involuntarily,  she  put 
up  her  hand  to  her  eyes  as  if  to  shut  out  the 
sight  of  this  importunate  fellow. 

"I  have  heard  something  of  that  tale,"  she 
whispered,  "but  dimly,  for  we  in  Harby  do  not 
care  to  speak  of  it.  When  my  grandsire's  sister 
shamed  her  family  by  wedding  with  a  Puritan 
her  people  blotted  her  from  their  memory.  You 
will  not  find  her  picture  on  the  walls  of  Harby." 

"The  loss  is  Harby's,"  the  soldier  answered, 
"  for  I  believe  she  was  as  fair  as  she  was  good. 
She  married  an  honest  gentleman  named  Cloud, 
whose  honesty  compelled  him  to  profess  the 
faith  he  believed  in.  My  name  is  Evander 
Cloud." 

70 


THE    ENVOY 

He  waited  for  a  moment  as  if  he  expected  her 
to  speak,  but  she  uttered  no  word,  only  faced 
him  rigidly  with  hatred  in  her  gaze. 

Seeing  her  silent,  he  resumed : 

"  It  was  this  sad  kinship  pushed  me  to  a  par- 
ley wherein,  perhaps,  I  have  something  strained 
my  strict  duty.  But  the  voice  of  our  common 
blood  cried  out  in  me  to  urge  you  to  reason. 
You  have  done  all  that  woman,  all  that  man 
could  do.  Yield  now,  while  I  can  still  offer  you 
terms,  and  your  garrison  shall  march  out  with 
all  the  honors  of  war,  drums  beating,  matches 
burning,  colors  flying." 

He  was  very  earnest  in  his  appeal,  and  Brill- 
iana  heard  him  to  the  end  in  silence,  with  her 
clinched  hands  pressed  against  her  bosom. 
Then  she  turned  fiercely  upon  him  and  her  voice 
was  bitter. 

" Sir,"  she  cried,  "if  I  hated  you  before  for  a 
detested  rebel,  think  how  I  hate  you  now,  if 
you  be,  even  in  so  base  a  way,  my  kinsman." 

She  turned  away  from  him,  lifting  her  clasped 
hands  as  if  in  supplication. 

"  Oh,  Heaven,  to  think  that  a  disloyal,  hypo- 
critical, canting  Puritan  could  brag  to  my  face 
that  he  carries  one  drop  of  our  loyal  blood  in 
his  false  heart." 

She  turned  to  him  again  with  new  fury. 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"  You  are  doubly  a  traitor  now,  and  if  you  are 
wise  you  will  keep  out  of  my  power,  for  my 
heart  aches  with  its  hate  of  you.  Go!  Five 
minutes  left  of  your  truce  gives  you  just  time 
to  return  to  your  rebels.  If  you  overlinger  in 
our  lines  but  one  minute  you  are  no  longer  an 
envoy:  you  are  an  enemy  and  a  spy  and  shall 
swing  for  it." 

She  reached  out  her  hand  to  strike  the  bell 
upon  the  table,  while  Evander  Cloud,  still  im- 
passive, paid  a  salutation  to  his  unwilling  host- 
ess and  made  a  motion  to  depart.  But  on  the 
instant  both  were  chilled  into  immobility  by  an 
amazing  interruption.  Brilliana's  hand  never 
touched  the  bell;  Evander's  hand  never  found 
the  handle  of  the  door.  For  between  the  be- 
ginning and  the  end  of  their  action  came  a  sud- 
den rattle  of  musketry,  distant  but  deafening, 
followed  on  the  instant  by  a  whirlwind  of  furious 
cries  and  noise. 


IX 

HOW    THE   SIEGE    WAS    RAISED     • 

THE  man  and  the  woman  glared  at  each  other, 
each  in  swift  suspicion  of  treason.  The  Lady 
of  Harby  was  the  quickest  to  act  upon  impulse. 
She  snatched  up  the  pistol  that  lay  upon  the 
table  and  levelled  it  with  a  steady  hand  at 
Evander. 

"Do  you  use  your  trust  to  betray  us?"  she 
shrilled.  "It  shall  not  save  you." 

Even  a  less  -  experienced  soldier  could  have 
seen  from  the  sure  way  in  which  Brilliana 
handled  her  weapon  that  his  life  was  in  real 
peril,  but  he  paid  no  more  heed  to  her  menace 
than  if  she  was  threatening  him  with  her  glove 
or  her  fan. 

"  Fighting  outside !"  he  cried.  Turning  to  the 
woman  he  asked,  with  a  fierceness  that  con- 
trasted with  his  previous  calm,  "Who  is  the 
traitor  here?" 

His  sword  was  naked  in  his  hand  as  he  spoke 
and  he  made  a  rush  for  the  door.  But  before 
he  could  reach  it  it  was  flung  open  in  his  face 

73 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

and  Halfman  rushed  in,  waving  his  drawn  sword, 
and  followed  by  Thoroughgood  carrying  a  gun 
and  Garlinge  and  Clupp  armed  with  pikes. 

Inevitably  bewildered  by  the  sudden  turn  in 
the  tide  of  events,  Evander  Cloud  gave  ground 
for  a  moment  before  the  onrush,  while  Halfman, 
staggering  like  a  drunken  man,  reeled  forward 
towards  Brilliana,  shrieking: 

"There  is  fighting  in  the  rebel  lines.  Help 
has  come  at  last." 

Whatever  joy  the  tidings  gave  to  Brilliana, 
she  wasted  no  words  from  the  needs  of  the  mo- 
ment. Pointing  to  Evander  where  he  stood, 
irresolute  in  surprise,  she  commanded,  "  Secure 
that  man!" 

Evander's  resolution  returned  to  him  with 
the  sound  of  her  voice,  but  he  was  one  against 
too  many.  While  he  tried  to  engage  the  blade 
of  Halfman,  a  swinging  blow  from  the  pike  of 
Garlinge  knocked  his  weapon  out  of  his  hand, 
and  in  another  moment  he  was  gripped  in  the 
grasp  of  the  two  young  country  giants,  while 
Thoroughgood  covered  him  with  his  musketoon. 

'This  is  treachery,"  he  gasped;  but  no  one 
paid  any  attention  to  his  protest.  Halfman, 
convinced  that  the  Puritan  was  a  sure  prisoner, 
swaggered  up  to  Brilliana  with  all  the  arrogance 
of  a  stage  herald. 

74 


HOW   THE   SIEGE    WAS   RAISED 

"Dear  lord,"  he  shouted,  "dear  lady,  a  com- 
pany of  Cavaliers  are  galloping  up  the  avenue, 
a-shouting  like  devils  for  the  King." 

He  was  flushed  and  drunk  with  exhilaration ; 
he  could  speak  no  more;  the  timely  episode 
tickled  his  tired  brain  like  wine;  he  caught  at 
the  table  for  support  and  muttered  inarticulate- 
ly. Thoroughgood,  who  had  secured  Evander's 
fallen  sword,  interpolated  a  word  of  explana- 
tion. 

"It  is  Sir  Rufus,  my  lady — Sir  Rufus  and  his 
friends. ' ' 

The  interruption  had  been  so  sudden,  the 
things  that  had  chanced  had  passed  so  swiftly, 
that  Brilliana  still  stood  as  she  had  stood  when 
she  gave  the  command  to  secure  Evander.  But 
now  all  her  being  seemed  alive  with  a  new  life. 

"I  hear  them;  I  hear  them!"  she  cried,  ex- 
ultantly. And,  indeed,  the  sounds  came  very 
clearly  now  of  fierce  young  voices  shouting  for 
the  King. 

"The  King!  The  King!"  Brilliana  cried,  in 
an  ecstasy,  and  as  the  loyal  syllables  died  on 
her  lips  there  came  a  trampling  of  near  feet,  and 
then  through  the  yawning  doorway  rushed  a 
covey  of  young  gentlemen  waving  their  drawn 
swords  and  yelling  their  cry,  "The  King!  The 
King!"  As  they  flooded  into  the  room,  bright 

75 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

foam  on  the  wave  of  victorious  loyalty,  Brill- 
iana  knew  them  all.  Sir  Rufus  Quaryll.  her 
neighbor  and  -hot  lover ;  the  Lord  Fawley ,  who 
had  vainly  wooed  her  for  wife;  Sir  John  Rad- 
lett,  who  had  the  sense  to  love  her  and  the  sense 
to  hold  his  tongue;  Captain  Bardon,  the  bold 
and  bluff;  and  young  Lord  Richard  Ingrow, 
with  the  delicate,  girlish  face  that  masked  the 
amazing  rake.  She  seemed  to  see  them  as  in 
some  golden  dream,  seemed  to  hear  a-down  the 
vistas  of  dreams  the  echoes  of  their  gallant 
cries  of  "God  save  the  King!"  Then  as  the 
new-comers  knelt  before  her  she  knew  that  all 
was  true. 

"God  bless  you,  gentlemen!"  she  cried,  from 
a  full  heart.  "You  are  very  well  come." 

Rufus  Quaryll,  neighbor  and  wooer,  was  the 
first  to  speak,  looking  up  at  her  with  rapture  in 
his  eyes  of  reddish  brown. 

"  Imperial  lady,  the  siege  of  Harby  is  raised." 

Brilliana  flung  out  her  hands  to  him,  and  as  he 
caught  and  kissed  them  she  raised  him  to  his  feet. 

"  Your  news  is  music,"  she  said,  and  her  voice 
was  as  blithe  as  a  song. 

"We  are  heralds  of  victory,"  Rufus  said,  as 
he  stood  and  looked  into  her  eyes. 

My  Lord  Fawley  rose  from  his  knees  with  a 
whoop. 

76 


HOW   THE    SIEGE   WAS    RAISED 

"We  have  pelted  the  rebels  from  Edgehill," 
he  shouted.  Sir  John  Radlett  caught  him  up. 
"We  banged  them  finely,"  he  trumpeted. 
Young  Ingrow,  with  a  flush  on  his  fine  cheeks, 
sang  out  a  shrill  "Hurrah  for  Prince  Rupert!" 
and  bluff  Bardon  rubbed  his  hands  as  he  chuc- 
kled, "He  brushed  them  into  dust." 

All  the  Cavaliers  spoke  rapidly  and  eagerly, 
flinging  their  phrases  each  on  top  of  the  other. 
Rufus  summed  up  all  in  a  single  splendid  sen- 
tence. 

"The  road  lies  plain  to  London." 

"Heaven  be  praised,"  Brilliana  ejaculated, 
and  then,  wonder  treading  on  the  heels  of  thank- 
fulness, she  questioned,  "  How  came  you  here 
so  timely?" 

My  Lord  Fawley  broke  into  a  boisterous  laugh 
which  seemed  to  rattle  among  the  rafters. 

"Oh,  Lord,  the  best  jest  in  the  world,"  he 
bellowed.  Bardon  clapped  a  hand  on  lad  Ing- 
row's  shoulder. 

"Our  Ingrow  writes  a  clerky  hand,"  he  as- 
serted. Ingrow,  stabbing  at  Bar  don's  stout  ribs 
with  slender  fingers,  riposted: 

"And  our  Bardon  has  a  merry  invention." 

Brilliana  looked  commands  and  entreaties  at 
the  row  of  jolly,  laughing  faces. 

"Do  not  play  the  sphinx  with  me,"  she 

77 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

pleaded.     Rufus  immediately  made  himself  in- 
terpreter of  the  mirth. 

"  Why,  between  us  we  forged  a  letter  from 
my  lord  high  damnable  traitor  Essex  to  your 
enemy  here,  advising  him  of  reinforcements,  as- 
suring him  of  the  King's  defeat." 

'  Yes,"  chirruped  the  Lord  Fawley,  "and  the 
gull-gaby  swallowed  the  bait." 

"When  we  rode  up  but  now,"  Radlett  inter- 
posed, "  his  rascals  received  us  with  open  arms." 

Rufus  smiled  sardonically  as  he  completed 
the  story  of  the  entrapment. 

;'  They  took  us  for  Essex  men  because  of  our 
orange-tawny  scarves,  but  they  found  out  when 
too  late  that  we  were  right-tight  Cavalier  lads 
and  no  crop-eared  curmudgeons.  Why,  we 
were  in  the  thick  of  them  with  sword  and  pistol 
before  they  had  stayed  from  snuffling  their 
psalms  of  welcome." 

Brilliana  held  out  her  hand  again  for  her 
cousin's  hand  and  clasped  it  manfully. 

"  How  rich  is  the  ring  of  victory  in  your  loyal 
voice,"  she  sighed.  "My  last  public  news  was 
of  the  King's  stay  at  Shrewsbury.  Then  these 
curmudgeons  raced  hot-foot  from  Cambridge  to 
pull  down  my  flag.  But  'This  is  Loyalty 
House,'  says  I,  and  'Go  to  the  devil,'  says  I— 
forgive  me,  sirs,  if  I  raged  unmaidenly — and  I 

78 


HOW    THE    SIEGE   WAS    RAISED 

slammed  the  door  in  their  sour  faces.  Then 
came  such  a  tintamar,  rebels  firing  on  us,  we 
firing  on  rebels,  and  so  in  such  noise  and  thunder 
we  have  been  eclipsed  out  of  the  world  these 
weary  days. 

"  Never  were  such  days  better  lived  through 
since  the  world  began,"  said  Rufus.  'You  do 
well  to  call  this  Loyalty  House  which  has  held 
out  so  well  against  the  King's  enemies." 

Brilliana  now  turned  to  where  Halfman  stood 
apart,  his  hands  resting  on  the  hilt  of  his  sword, 
and  the  shadow  of  a  frown  on  his  forehead  as  he 
eyed  the  babbling  gallants. 

"  That  Loyalty  House  should  hold  out  so 
long  as  it  could  was  from  the  first  my  purpose," 
she  said.  "  But  that  it  was  able  to  hold  out  so 
long  as  it  did  was  greatly  due  to  the  courage 
and  the  counsels  of  this  brave  gentleman." 

As  she  spoke  she  pointed  to  Halfman,  whose 
dark  face  flushed  with  pleasure  as  he  gave  back 
the  stares  of  the  astonished  Cavaliers  who  up  to 
now  had  left  him  unnoticed. 

"  Gentles,"  she  went  on,  "  this  is  Captain  Half- 
man, who  warned  me  of  my  danger,  who  helped 
me  in  my  peril  with  his  soldier's  knowledge  and 
his  soldier's  sword,  and  who  was  of  my  own 
mind  rather  to  die  than  to  surrender  Harby." 

Halfman  strode  forward  with  a  studied  grace. 

79 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

He  felt  like  Faulconbridge ;  he  felt  like  Harry  at 
Agincourt;  he  felt  like  Coriolanus;  he  felt  ex- 
ceedingly happy. 

"Gallants,"  he  said,  with  a  magnificent  sal- 
utation, "  to  have  served  this  lady  makes  a  man 
know  how  it  had  seemed  to  serve  Alexander  or 
Caesar.  Wherefore,  a  soldier  of  good  -  fortune 
salutes  you." 

Rufus,  who  had  watched  him  with  something 
of  a  sullen  eye  from  the  moment  of  Brilliana's 
introduction,  now  answered  him  with  a  clearer 
countenance. 

"We  greet  you,  sir,"  he  said,  gravely,  "with 
great  gratitude  and  great  envy,  for,  indeed,  there 
is  none  among  us  who  would  not  have  given  his 
life  to  be  lieutenant  to  this  lady."  He  accorded 
the  beaming  Half  man  a  military  salute,  and 
then,  turning  to  Brilliana,  continued: 

"  Bright  Brilliana,  your  servants  and  swains 
yearned  to  ride  to  your  help  when  we  heard  of 
your  peril,  but  we  could  not  leave  the  King  in 
the  beginning  of  his  enterprise.  He  gave  us 
glad  leave  after  the  victory.  '  Tell  the  brave 
lady,'  he  said,  'she  shall  be  our  viceroy  in  Ox- 
fordshire." 

Brilliana's  cheeks  blazed  with  pleasure.  "  Oh, 
the  dear  man,"  she  cried,  with  clasped  hands  of 
rapture.  But  there  was  more  to  come. 

80 


HOW   THE    SIEGE   WAS    RAISED 

"  I  think,"  continued  Rufus,  "  it  is  more  than 
likely  that  his  Majesty  will  visit  Harby — I 
should  say  Loyalty  House — ere  he  rides  to 
London." 

Brilliana  thrilled  with  pride — with  pleasure. 
The  air  about  her  seemed  to  swoon  with  music, 
to  be  sweet  as  roses,  to  be  spangled  with  golden 
motes. 


X 

PRISONER    OF    WAR 

"I  REJOICE,"  she  answered,  in  a  voice  un- 
steady with  happiness — such  might  have  been 
the  voice  of  Semele  at  the  coming  of  her  god— 
"  I  rejoice  that  Loyalty  House  boasts  a  roof  to 
shelter  his  Majesty.  For  I  was  minded  to  blow 
the  place  to  pieces  rather  than  yield  it  to  this 
gentleman  who  would  so  speciously  persuade 
me  to  surrender." 

As  she  spoke  she  glanced  disdainfully  in  the 
direction  of  Evander  Cloud,  who  now  for  the 
first  time  since  the  irruption  of  the  Cavaliers 
became  in  any  sense  an  object  of  public  interest. 
None  of  the  new-comers  had  paid  any  heed  to 
the  sombre-habited  prisoner;  Halfman  had  for- 
gotten his  captive  in  his  jealous  study  of  the 
men  who  had  raised  the  siege;  Thoroughgood, 
with  the  Puritan's  sword  resting  idly  on  his  left 
arm,  was  as  absorbed  in  the  converse  of  Sir 
Rufus  and  his  comrades  as  were  his  subordinates 
Garlinge  and  Clupp,  who,  though  they  gripped 
their  prisoner  tightly,  were  as  indifferent  to  his 

82 


PRISONER    OF    WAR 

existence  as  if  he  had  been  the  turbaned  dummy 
of  a  quintain.  But  now  on  the  instant  every 
glance  was  turned  on  Evander,  and  Sir  Rufus, 
eying  him  with  much  disfavor,  asked  of  Brill- 
iana,  "Who  is  your  prisoner?" 

Evander  made  a  step  forward  unrestrained 
by  his  guards,  and  answered  for  himself  com- 
posedly. 

"  I  am  Captain  Cloud,  of  the  parliamentary 
army,  snared  under  a  flag  of  truce." 

He  was  so  well  restrained  in  his  speech  and 
carriage,  so  quiet  a  contrast  to  the  heated  gen- 
tlemen who  glared  at  him,  that  to  an  uninformed 
observer  he  might  very  well  have  seemed  the 
judge  rather  than  the  one  on  trial.  Rufus 
snapped  at  him  like  an  angry  dog. 

"Well,  you  tub-thumper,  you  see  that  the 
gentlemen  of  England  are  more  than  a  match 
for  pestilent  pennyweight  rebels." 

Evander  surveyed  his  truculent  opponent  with 
a  tranquil  contempt  which  had  its  effect  in  in- 
creasing the  irritation  of  the  Cavalier. 

'  You  play  the  valiant  braggart  to  a  captive," 
he  commented,  quietly.  Then  he  turned  to 
Brilliana  as  one  who  had  no  further  desire  for 
treaty  with  a  fellow  of  this  kind. 

"  Let  me  remind  you,  lady,  that  I  came  here 
under  a  flag  of  truce." 

83 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

Brilliana  had  forgotten  Evander  in  the  ex- 
hilaration of  her  relief.  But  now  that  he  had 
come  into  her  mind  again,  so  with  his  image  had 
flooded  in  again  all  the  prejudices  he  provoked, 
the  scorn,  the  hatred. 

"That  plea  cannot  release  you,"  she  an- 
swered, hotly.  ;'  Your  time  was  up,  your  sword 
was  drawn;  I  am  very  sure  you  would  have 
joined  your  men." 

Evander,  whose  arms  were  now  released  from 
bondage  by  Garlinge  and  Clupp,  made  a  gesture 
of  absolute  acquiescence. 

"  I  am  very  sure  I  should  have  joined  my 
men,"  he  answered,  calmly.  Brilliana  rounded 
on  him  triumphant. 

"  Then  you  are  a  prisoner  of  war,  fairly  taken. 
Let  me  have  no  more  words." 

As  indifferent  to  her  words  as  to  the  angry 
carriage  of  the  Cavaliers,  Evander  stepped  tran- 
quilly back  to  his  place  between  his  warders. 

"I  have  no  more  words  to  waste,"  he  said, 
with  a  scorn  in  his  voice  that  stung  Brilliana's 
cheeks  to  crimson.  She  turned  hurriedly  to  the 
little  knot  of  Cavaliers,  who  chafed  at  having 
to  witness  what  they  held  to  be  the  presump- 
tion of  a  Puritan  in  daring  to  bandy  words  with 
a  lady  of  quality. 

"Gallants,"  she  said,  "this  merry  meeting 

84 


PRISONER   OF    WAR 

calls  for  its  baptism  of  wine."  As  she  spoke 
she  struck  upon  the  bell,  shrewdly  confident 
that  her  wishes  would  be  met.  "Wine,"  she 
added,  "the  more  precious  that  it  is  wellnigh 
the  last  in  our  cellars." 

As  the  Cavaliers  came  about  her  applauding 
with  word  and  look,  the  doors  of  the  banqueting- 
room  parted  and  Mrs.  Satchell  entered,  full  of 
pomp  and  apple-red  with  pleasure,  followed  by 
Shard  bearing  a  tray  of  glasses,  and  by  pretty, 
dimpling  Tiffany  bearing  a  goodly  flagon  of 
wine  and  observing  with  demure  approbation 
the  covey  of  King's  gentlemen. 

Mistress  Satchell  swam  like  a  gall  on  towards 
the  Cavaliers,  her  great,  red,  spoon-shaped  face 
damp  with  satisfaction.  Playing  at  heroine  be- 
hind bombarded  walls  was  all  very  well,  but 
greeting  of  timely  gentry  who  had  set  heroines 
free  was  infinitely  better. 

"Heaven  bless  you,  merry  gentlemen,"  she 
chirruped.  "  Here  is  a  cup  of  comfort  for  you." 

"Heaven  bless  you,  merry  matron,"  Bardon 
answered,  as  soberly  as  he  could,  for  indeed  the 
sight  of  Mistress  Satchell  in  her  Sunday  best 
and  in  her  most  coming-on  humor  was  not  of  a 
nature  to  strengthen  sobriety.  Lord  Fawley 
gasped  as  the  virago  swaggered  towards  his 
companions,  and  young  Ingrow  popped  his 

85 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

handkerchief  into  his  mouth  and  bit  at  it  while 
he  stared  with  eyes  of  nursery  wonder  at  the 
dame.  Radlett  winked  as  if  dazzled  by  the 
whimsical  apparition,  and  Sir  Rufus,  familiar 
with  Mrs.  Satchell  and  her  vagaries,  was  the  only 
member  of  his  party  who  kept  his  countenance 
unchanged  on  her  entrance. 

Brilliana  was  sympathetically  swift  to  ex- 
plain her  astonishing  handwoman. 

"  Gentles,"  she  said,  "  this  is  Mistress  Satchell, 
who  queens  it  in  times  of  peace  over  my  kitchen, 
but  who  has  proved  herself  my  very  valiant  ad- 
jutant during  the  siege." 

The  dame  bridled  with  pride. 

"  I  can  handle  a  pike,  my  lords,  I  promise 
ye,"  she  asserted;  and  then,  turning  to  Half- 
man  for  confirmation,  "  Can  I  not,  Master  Half- 
man?" 

Halfman  slapped  his  thigh  approvingly  and 
answered  to  the  Cavalier  with  grave  voice  and 
smiling  eyes. 

"  Never  was  pike  so  handled  before,  I  promise 
ye." 

The  tone  of  his  voice  mimicked  Mrs.  Satch ell's 
manner  even  as  the  words  of  it  aped  her  matter, 
but  the  dame  was  too  pleased  with  herself  and 
the  world  to  heed  what  it  was  that  set  the  gen- 
tlemen laughing. 

86 


PRISONER   OF    WAR 

"So,  so,"  Radlett  hummed  approval.  "Mrs. 
Satchell,  will  you  ride  with  me  to  the  King?" 

Mrs.  Satchell  dipped  him  a  swimming  rever- 
ence, but  she  shook  her  head  decisively. 

"  Your  honor  means  well,  but  I  cannot  leave 
my  lady.  The  Roundheads  might  come  again." 

The  Lord  Fawley  had  by  this  seen  his  glass 
filled  by  Tiffany  and  was  staring  boldly  into  her 
pretty  face,  much  to  the  exasperation  of  honest 
Thoroughgood,  chafing  in  the  background. 

"Do  you  handle  a  pike,  prettikins?"  Fawley 
asked.  Prettikins  dropped  him  a  courtesy  and 
shook  her  curls. 

"No,  my  lord,"  she  whispered,  "I  am  not 
very  soldierly." 

It  was  now  Ingrow's  turn  to  have  his  glass 
filled  and  to  stare  admiration  at  the  pretty 
serving- woman . 

"  If  you  have  a  mind  to  enlist,"  he  said,  tempt- 
ingly, "you  shall  be  ensign  in  my  troop  and 
we'll  carry  your  kirtle  for  a  flag." 

Whether  Mrs.  Satchell  considered  that  Tif- 
fany was  like  to  be  embarrassed  by  the  atten- 
tions of  the  gentry,  or  whether  she  considered 
that  those  attentions  diverted  too  much  notice 
from  herself  as  the  heroine  of  the  servants'  hall, 
she  certainly  came  to  the  rescue,  edging  her  bulk 
between  the  girl  and  Ingrow. 

87 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"She  is  too  green  for  your  grace,"  she  in- 
sisted. ;'You  need  a  fine  woman  like  me  for 
your  flag-bearer." 

Even  Ingrow's  readiness  found  him  some- 
thing at  a  loss  for  an  answer.  He  looked  as  if 
he  feared  lest  dame  Satchell  might  take  him 
in  an  embrace.  Brilliana,  now  that  all  the 
glasses  were  charged,  decided  that  the  company 
had  tasted  enough  of  Mrs.  Satchell's  humors. 

"I  thank  you,  Mistress  Satchell,"  she  said, 
quietly,  and  Mrs.  Satchell,  rightly  reading  in  the 
tones  of  her  mistress's  voice  permission  to  retire, 
withdrew  in  good  order,  beaming  and  bobbing 
to  all  the  gentlemen  and  followed  by  Shard  and 
Tiffany,  who,  with  lids  demurely  lowered,  avoid- 
ed recognition  of  the  admiring  glances  of  Faw- 
ley  and  Ingrow. 

Brilliana  turned  to  her  company  and  lifted 
her  glass. 

"Drink,  gentles,"  she  summoned.  "Drink 
'The  King!'" 

All  the  Cavaliers  shouted  the  loyal  toast  so 
that  the  words  "  The  King! "  seemed  to  ring  in 
every  nook  of  the  great  hall ;  then  every  Cava- 
lier drained  his  glass. 

"Ah,"  sighed  Lord  Fawley,  as  he  set  down 
his  empty  vessel,  "  I  could  drink  the  King's 
health  forever." 


PRISONER   OF    WAR 

"  I  swear  it  would  sweeten  sour  ale,"  Bardon 
declared. 

Young  Ingrow  took  him  up.  "  When  it  floats 
on  such  noble  tipple  I  am  a  god-swilling  nectar. ' ' 
Half  man  slapped  his  chest. 

"Come,  lads!"  he  cried;  "when  Cavaliers 
drink  the  King's  health  they  should  sing  the 
King's  song,"  and  in  another  moment  his  mellow 
voice  was  setting  his  friends  a  sturdy  example. 
"Gallants  of  England,"  he  warbled: 

"Gallants  of  England,  shall  not  the  King  land 
Safely  in  town  to  knock  Parliament  down? 
Shall  we  not  ever  strive  to  enaeavor 
Glory  to  win  for  our  King  and  our  crown? 
Shall  not  the  Roundhead  soon  be' confounded? 
Sa,  sa,  sa,  sa,  boys,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  boys, 
Then  we'll  return  home  in  triumph  and  joy. 
Then  we'll  be  merry,  drink  sack  and  sherry, 
And  we  will  sing,  boys,  God  save  the  King,  boys, 
Cast  up  our  hats,  and  sing  Vive  le  Roy." 


XI 

AT   BAY 

BRILLIANA  and  the  Cavaliers,  stirred  by  the 
enthusiasm  of  Half  man's  stanza,  caught  up  the 
cry  commanded  and  sent  it  rolling  through  the 
hall. 

"Vive  le  Roy!  God  bless  the  King!"  they 
shouted,  with  the  loyal  tears  in  their  eyes. 
Brilliana  gave  Half  man  a  grateful  smile. 

"Well  sung,  well  done,"  she  approved.  Half- 
man  glowed.  Sir  Rufus  frowned  a  little.  Turn- 
ing hurriedly  to  his  companions,  he  said: 

"  Friends,  I  have  another  toast  for  you.  I 
give  you  the  King's  sweet  warrior,  Oxfordshire's 
blithe  viceroy,  '  The  Lady  of  Loyalty  House.' ' 

"Never  a  better  toast  in  the  world,"  Half- 
man  shouted.  "Drink,  gallants,  drink." 

Brilliana  crossed  her  fingers  before  her  face. 
Through  the  living  lattice  her  eyes  peeped 
brightly. 

"I  protest  you  make  too  much  of  me,"  she 
pleaded,  while  Halfman  and  the  Cavaliers 
quickly  filled  their  glasses  again  and  lifted  them 

90 


AT    BAY 

high  in  air.  A  chorus  of  "  The  Lady  of  Loyalty 
House! "  rang  out,  and  again  the  toast  was  hon- 
ored. 

"I  thank  you  with  all  my  heart,"  Brilliana 
panted,  blushing  and  excited  at  the  tumult  and 
the  praise.  There  was  a  moment's  silence. 
Everything  worth  saying  seemed  to  have  been 
said,  everything  worth  doing  to  have  been  done. 
Suddenly,  in  that  silence,  Bardon  caught  sight  of 
Evander  where  he  stood  apart,  disdainful,  be- 
tween his  guards,  and  the  sight  pricked  his 
wits.  Turning  to  his  mates,  he  thumbed  at  the 
prisoner  over  his  shoulder. 

"  Should  we  not  make  the  crop-ear  yonder 
pledge  the  Lady  of  Loyalty  House?"  he  ques- 
tioned. Radlett  rubbed  approving  hands. 

"Well  thought.  Let  him  honor  his  con- 
queror," he  began.  The  Lord  Fawley  tripped 
him  up  with  a  new  proposal. 

"  Stop,  stop ;  not  so  fast,"  he  protested.  '  The 
fellow  has  not  pledged  the  King  yet.  Let  him 
drink  the  King's  health  first  and  be  damned  to 
him." 

The  others  applauded,  but  Ingrow,  noting  a 
certain  sterner  tightening  of  Evander's  mouth, 
interrupted. 

"I'll  wager  he  will  not  drink,"  he  said,  look- 
ing maliciously  from  the  flushed  faces  of  the 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

Cavaliers  to  the  pale  face  of  the  Puritan.     Ru- 
fus's  temper  blazed  instantly. 

"Will  not  drink,  say  you!"  he  cried.  "This 
mewcant  shall  pledge  at  our  pleasure  or  taste 
our  displeasure." 

He  strode  to  the  table,  filled  a  cup  of  wine,  and 
set  it  down  on  the  corner  nearest  to  Evander. 

"Come,  you  Roundpoll,"  he  continued— 
"  come,  you  Geneva  mumbler,  here  is  a  cup  for 
you  to  wash  down  the  dust  of  your  dry  thoughts. 
Drink,  I  give  you  '  The  King. ' ' 

Evander  gazed  steadfastly  at  the  irate  gentle- 
man and  made  no  motion  to  take  the  wine. 
Brilliana,  from  where  she  stood,  watching  him 
curiously,  wrestled  with  a  reluctant  admiration 
of  his  carriage.  Ingrow  commented,  smoothly, 
maliciously : 

"  You  see,  the  gentleman  does  not  drink." 

Ingrow' s  words  fanned  the  Cavalier  fire. 

"Damn  him  for  a  disloyal  rat!"  Radlett 
shouted.  Halfman  elbowed  his  way  past  him 
and  addressed  Rufus. 

"  Sweet  Sir  Rufus,"  he  said,  "  I  have  lived  in 
places  where  a  little  persuasion  has  often  led 
folk  to  act  much  against  their  personal  inclina- 
tions and  desires.  Out  swords  and  force  the 
toast." 

As  he  spoke  he  drew  his  sword  with  his  best 

92 


AT    BAY 

Mercutio  manner,  and  the  suggestion  and  the 
naked  steel  carried  contagion.  Every  gentle- 
man unsheathed  his  sword;  all  advanced  upon 
Evander,  a  line  of  shining  joints. 

"Bait  him,  bait  him!"  Bar  don  shouted. 

Ingrow  shrilled,  ''Tickle  him,  prick  him,  pink 
him  till  he  drinks!" 

Though  Evander  surveyed  his  enemies  as  com- 
posedly as  if  they  had  been  children  threatening 
him  with  pins,  Brilliana  knew  that  the  spirit  of 
mischief  was  alive  and  that  the  Cavaliers  would 
not  boggle  at  cruelty,  six  to  one,  for  the  sport 
of  making  a  Parliament  man  honor  the  King 
against  his  will.  She  hated  the  man,  but  she 
would  not  have  him  so  handled.  Instantly  she 
stepped  between  Evander  and  the  Cavaliers, 
who  fell  back  with  lowered  points  before  their 
hostess. 

"Wait,  sirs,"  she  ordered,  "let  me  see  if  my 
entreaties  will  not  make  the  bear  more  gra- 
cious." 

She  took  up  the  cup  where  Rufus  had  set  it 
down,  and,  coming  close  to  Evander,  held  the 
vessel  to  him  with  her  sweetest  smile,  the  smile 
which,  she  had  been  assured  a  thousand  times, 
would  tame  a  savage  and  shatter  adamant. 
"Will  you  not  pledge  the  best  gentleman  in 
England?"  she  asked,  with  a  voice  all  honey. 

93 


Very  courteously  Evander  took  the  proffered 
cup  from  her  fingers  and  gave  her  back  her  smile. 
Brilliana's  heart  thrilled  with  pleasure  at  this 
new  proof  of  beauty's  victory. 

"I  will  drink  at  your  wish,"  he  said,  looking 
at  her  with  a  quiet  smile  and  speaking  as  if  he 
and  she  were  alone  together  in  the  great  hall. 
"  I  will  drink  at  your  wish,  but  with  my  own 
wit."  Still  looking  into  the  gratified  eyes  of 
Brilliana,  he  lifted  the  cup. 

"I  drink,"  he  cried,  loud  and  clear,  "to  the 
best  man  in  England.  I  drink  to  Colonel  Crom- 
well." 

He  drained  the  glass  and  sent  it  crashing  into 
the  fireplace.  Then  he  folded  his  arms  and 
faced  his  antagonists. 

Brilliana's  heart  seemed  for  a  second  to  stand 
still.  So  beauty  had  not  triumphed,  after  all. 
Dimly,  as  one  in  a  dream,  she  could  hear  the  fury 
of  the  Cavaliers  find  words. 

"You  black  Jack,  I  will  clip  your  ears,"  Ru- 
fus  promised. 

"  Blood  him.     Blood  him,"  bawled  Fawley. 

"Slit  his  nose,"  Radlett  suggested. 

"Duck  him  in  the  horse-pond,"  suggested 
Bardon. 

"Set  him  in  the  stocks,"  Ingrow  advised. 

Half  man,  seeing  "how  Brilliana  leaned  against 

94 


AT    BAY 

the  table,  her  face  pale  as  her  smock,  raged  at 
her  daring  denier.  He  stretched  out  his  sword 
as  if  to  marshal  and  restrain  the  passions  of  the 
Cavaliers. 

"Would  it  not  be  properer  sport,  sirs,"  he 
asked,  "  to  tie  him  in  a  chair,  like  Guido  Fawkes 
on  November  day,  and  take  him  through  the 
village  that  loyal  lads  may  pelt  a  traitor?" 

Once  again  Half  man's  pleasant  invention 
pleased  the  fancy  of  his  allies. 

"  Well  said,"  assented  Rufus.  "  Fetch  a  rope, 
some  one." 

Brilliana,  hearing,  moved  a  little  forward. 
She  had  failed  and  felt  shamed.  Yet  this  thing 
must  not  happen.  She  could  not  leave  her  en- 
emy thus  to  the  mercy  of  his  enemies.  But 
what  she  would  have  said  was  stayed  by  a  sud- 
den diversion. 

Interest  in  all  the  events  that  had  so  swiftly 
passed  before  them  had  gravely  relaxed  the 
vigilance  of  Evander's  guardians.  Garlinge  and 
Clupp — a  strong  Gyas  and  a  strong  Cloanthes— 
open-eyed  and  open-mouthed,  were  open-hand- 
ed also  and  clawed  no  clutch  upon  their  prison- 
er's shoulder.  Thoroughgood,  confused  between 
jealous  thoughts  of  Tiffany  and  envious  admi- 
ration of  the  manner  in  which  Halfman  han- 
dled the  gentry,  was  as  heedless  as  his  inferiors, 

95 


THE    LADY   OF   LOYALTY   HOUSE 

and  was  therefore  taken  too  much  by  surprise 
to  offer  the  slightest  resistance  when  Evander, 
suddenly  springing  from  between  his  guards, 
snatched  from  his  supine  arms  the  captured 
sword  that  had  been  intrusted  to  his  keeping. 
Before  he  or  any  other  of  the  astonished  spec- 
tators could  take  any  action  Evander  had  leaped 
lightly  into  the  alcove  of  the  window,  and, 
dragging  by  main  force  the  heavy  table  in  front 
of  him,  so  as  to  blockade  his  corner,  showed 
himself  snugly  intrenched  behind  a  rampart 
which  his  single  sword  might  well  hope  to  hold 
at  least  for  some  time  against  the  swords  of 
half  a  dozen  assailants. 

"You  will  find  me  a  spoil  sport,"  he  cried, 
cheerily,  as  he  stood  on  guard  behind  the  mas- 
sive bulk  of  oak.  "  Dogs,  here  is  a  hart  at  bay; 
beware  his  antlers." 

"Bravely  done,  rebel,"  Brilliana  cried,  aloud, 
as  if  in  spite  of  herself,  as  she  beheld  the  reckless 
deed,  and  "Bravely  done,  rebel,"  Halfman 
echoed,  in  his  reluctant  turn,  as  he  heard  his 
lady's  words  and  saw  the  light  of  praise  on  his 
lady's  face.  Though  he  hated  the  Puritan  as 
cordially  as  if  he  had  been  a  King's  man  all  his 
days,  he  could  not  deny  his  courage,  and  his 
scene  of  effective  action  made  him  wish  himself 
in  Evander 's  place,  taking  the  stage  so  skilfully 

96 


AT    BAY 

and  dominating  the  situation.  But  above  all 
this,  if  Brilliana  applauded  the  rebel's  act,  then 
the  rebel's  life  was  of  some  value,  and  until  he 
received  his  lady's  orders  the  rebel's  life  should 
be  sacred  to  Half  man.  So  he  struck  up  with 
his  sword  the  pikes  that  Garlinge  and  Clupp 
levelled,  clumsily  enough,  and  were  preparing 
to  thrust  at  Evander  over  the  interposing  bar- 
rier. At  the  same  moment  Rufus,  for  a  very 
different  reason,  restrained  the  action  of  his 
comrade  Cavaliers,  who  were  making  ready  for 
a  combined  rush,  sword  in  hand,  upon  their 
enemy.  Rufus  saw  instantly  how  well  in- 
trenched their  enemy  lay;  it  would  be  hard  for 
any  sword  to  reach  him  across  that  width  of 
oak,  and  even  push  of  pike,  when  delivered  by 
such  loutish  fingers  as  now  governed  those 
weapons,  might  easily  be  parried  by  a  swords- 
man so  skilful  as  he  guessed  Evander  to  be. 
But  there  was  no  generosity  towards  a  brave 
adversary  in  Rufus's  action.  In  his  hot  feroc- 
ity he  merely  wished  to  make  sure  of  his  quarry 
as  quickly  as  possible. 

"You  shall  be  no  hart-royal,"  he  answered, 
fiercely,  taking  up  the  hunter's  challenge.  "  You 
shall  not  escape.  We  shall  sound  the  mort  of 
the  deer  in  a  moment.  Give  me  your  gun, 
fellow." 

97 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

This  last  command  was  addressed  to  Thor- 
oughgood,  who  had  brought  his  musketoon  to 
the  ready  and  was  waiting  irresolute  for  com- 
mand. Sir  Rufus  snatched  the  weapon  from 
him  and  was  about  to  aim  at  Evander  when, 
to  his  rage,  Brilliana  stepped  between  him  and 
his  mark. 

"Stay  your  hand,  Sir  Rufus,"  she  command- 
ed, with  a  frown  on  the  fair  face  to  which  the 
color  had  now  returned.  "It  is  for  me,  and 
for  me  only,  to  give  orders  here.  This  is  my 
prisoner,  and  were  he  ten  times  a  Roundpoll 
he  should  have  honest  handling." 

Sir  Rufus  would  fain  have  protested,  would 
fain  have  carried  his  point,  but  he  saw  that  in 
the  face  of  her  whom  it  was  his  heart's  desire 
to  please  which  reduced  him  to  sullen  obedience. 
He  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "As  you  please," 
he  muttered,  as  he  returned  the  gun  to  Thor- 
oughgood  and,  turning  on  his  heel  to  hide  his 
vexation,  joined  his  comrades,  who  seemed  all 
to  share,  discomfited,  in  his  rebuke,  and  to  depre- 
cate the  anger  of  Brilliana.  Brilliana  went  up 
to  the  table,  and,  poising  herself  against  it  by 
pressing  the  palms  of  her  hands  on  its  surface, 
looked  with  gracious  entreaty  into  the  grave 
eyes  of  Evander,  who  lowered  his  sword  in  re- 
spectful greeting. 

98 


XII 
A    USE    FOR   A    PRISONER 

"SiR,"  said  Brilliana,  "if  you  give  me  your 
parole  you  shall  have  the  freedom  of  Harby." 

Evander  made  her  a  ceremonious  bow. 

"  Lady,  you  seem  to  me  to  be  the  only  true 
gentleman  on  your  side  of  this  quarrel,  so  I  will 
give  you  my  word  and  my  sword." 

Holding  his  sword  by  the  blade,  he  extended 
it  across  the  table  to  Brilliana,  whose  hand 
caught  its  hilt  with  the  firm  grasp  of  one  to 
whom  the  manage  of  arms  was  not  unfamiliar. 
As  she  stepped  back  with  her  trophy  Evander 
pushed  the  table  aside  to  afford  him  passage 
from  his  alcove,  and,  saluting  the  lady,  took  his 
former  place  between  his  warders.  Brilliana 
returned  his  salutation  with  a  murmured  "It  is 
well. ' '  Rufus,  disengaging  himself  from  the  knot 
of  discomfited  Cavaliers,  moved  towards  her  and 
addressed  her  with  faintly  restrained  impatience. 

"In  Heaven's  name,"  he  begged,   "set  this 
Cantwell  on  one  side  if  you  tender  him  so  pre- 
cious.    I  have  private  news  for  you." 
s  99 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

Brilliana's  face  wore  something  of  a  frown 
for  her  presuming  friend.  "Indeed!"  she  an- 
swered, coldly.  Then  turning  towards  Half  man 
she  tendered  to  him  Evander's  sword,  which  he 
hastened  to  take  from  her,  kneeling  as  he  did  so. 

"Captain  Cloud  is  in  your  care,"  she  said. 
"  Pray  you,  withdraw  your  prisoner  a  little." 

Halfman  rose,  bearing  Evander's  sword,  and 
went  to  Evander. 

"Will  you  come  this  way?"  he  bade  his  cap- 
tive, courteously  enough.  If  Brilliana  chose  to 
trust  a  Roundhead's  word,  her  will  was  Half- 
man's  law.  Evander  again  saluted  Brilliana 
and  followed  Halfman  to  the  farther  part  of  the 
hall.  Here  in  a  window-seat,  out  of  ear-shot  of 
the  other's  speech,  he  seated  himself  to  commune 
with  his  melancholy  reflections,  while  Halfman, 
after  stationing  Thoroughgood  at  a  little  dis- 
tance as  a  nominal  guard  upon  the  prisoner, 
dismissed  Garlinge  and  Clupp  from  the  room 
and  rejoined  the  Cavaliers.  Brilliana,  who  had 
still  been  standing  with  Sir  Rufus,  now  addressed 
the  others. 

"Gentlemen,"  she  said,  "you  must  need  sus- 
tenance after  this  morning's  work.  You  will 
find  such  poor  cheer  as  Harby  can  offer  in  the 
banqueting-hall.  Captain  Halfman,  will  you 
play  the  host  for  me?" 

100 


A    USE    FOR   A    PRISONER 

The  Cavaliers,  who  were,  indeed,  sharp-set 
and  ever-ready  trenchermen,  welcomed  the  pro- 
posal each  after  his  own  fashion. 

"Indeed,"  averred  the  Lord  Fawley,  "I 
would  say  good -day  to  a  pasty."  "Ay,"  as- 
sented Radlett,  "well  met,  beef  or  mutton." 
Ingrow  euphemized,  "  I  shall  be  well  content 
with  bread  and  cheese  and  dreams,"  as  he 
glanced  admiration  at  Brilliana.  Bardon  grunt- 
ed, "I  would  sell  all  my  dreams  for  a  slice  of 
cold  boar's  head." 

Halfman  addressed  them  in  the  character  of 
Father  Capulet.  uWe  have  a  trifling  foolish 
banquet  towards."  He  turned  towards  the 
doors  of  the  banqueting-room  with  the  fam- 
ished gentlemen  at  his  heels ;  then,  noticing  that 
Sir  Rufus  remained  with  Brilliana,  he  stopped 
and  questioned  him.  "You,  sir,  will  you  not 
eat?" 

Rufus  answered  him  with  an  impatience  that 
was  almost  anger.  "  No,  no,"  he  said;  "  I  have 
no  hunger.  Stay  your  stomachs  swiftly, 
friends." 

He  turned  again  to  Brilliana,  and  stood  oppo- 
site to  her  in  silence  till  Halfman  and  the  Cav- 
aliers had  quitted  the  hall.  Then  Brilliana 
spoke. 

"Well,  good  news  or  bad?" 

101 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"  Bad,"  Rufus  answered.  "  Your  cousin  Ran- 
dolph is  a  captive." 

Brilliana  gave  a  little  cry  of  regret. 

"Bad  news,  indeed!     How  did  it  chance?" 

"  In  the  battle,"  Rufus  answered.  "  The  King's 
standard-bearer  was  slain  and  the  King's  flag 
fell  into  the  rebel  hands." 

Brilliana  clasped  her  hands  with  a  sigh,  and 
would  have  spoken,  but  Rufus  stayed  her, 
hurrying  on  with  his  tale. 

"  That  could  not  be  endured,  dear  lady.  So 
in  the  dusk  Randolph  and  I  put  orange  scarfs 
about  us  that  we  might  be  taken  for  rogues  of 
Essex's  regiment,  and  so,  unchallenged,  slipped 
into  the  enemy's  camp.  Dear  fortune  led  me 
to  the  tent  of  Lord  Essex,  and  there  I  found  his 
secretary  sitting  and  gaping  at  the  precious  em- 
blem. I  snatched  it  from  his  fingers  and  made 
good  my  escape,  gaining  great  praise  from  his 
Majesty  when  I  laid  the  sacred  silk  at  his  feet." 

Brilliana's  eyes  swam  with  adoration.  "  Oh, 
my  gallant  friend!"  she  cried,  and  held  out  her 
hands  to  him.  He  caught  them  both  and 
kissed  them,  whereat  she  instantly  withdrew 
them  and  moved  a  little  away.  He  followed 
her,  speaking  low,  passionately. 

11  Your  words  mean  more  than  the  King's 
words  to  me.  You  know  that." 

IO2 


A   USE    FOR   A   PRISONER 

Brilliana  did  not  look  vastly  displeased  at 
this  wild  speech,  but  she  forced  a  tiny  frown 
and  set  her  finger  to  her  lips. 

"  Hush !' '  she  said.     "  What  of  Randolph  ?' ' 

"Less  fortunate  than  I,"  Rufus  resumed,  in 
calmer  tones,  "  he  ran  into  the  arms  of  a  burly 
Parliament  man,  that  Cambridge  Crophead  Mr. 
Cromwell,  who  made  him  prisoner." 

"Truly,"  said  Brilliana,  thoughtfully,  "it  is 
hard  luck  for  him  just  after  his  first  battle. 
But  'twill  be  soon  mended.  They  will  exchange 
him." 

Even  as  she  spoke  she  seemed  surprised  at  the 
gloomy  look  that  reigned  on  Rufus's  face.  His 
tone  was  as  gloomy  as  his  face  as  he  said,  "  He 
was  wearing  the  orange  scarf  of  Essex." 

"What  then?"  Brilliana  questioned,  still  sur- 
prised; then,  as  knowledge  flashed  upon  her, 
she  cried,  quickly,  "Ah,  they  will  say  that  he 
was  a  spy." 

"Ay,"  Rufus  answered,  hotly,  "the  King's 
spy,  God's  spy  upon  enemies  of  God  and  King, 
but  still  a  spy  in  their  eyes." 

"  But  what  is  to  be  done?"  Brilliana  gasped. 

"I  would  that  I  knew,"  Rufus  answered. 
"  His  Majesty  has  interceded  for  him  and  has 
gained  him  some  days  of  grace.  It  is  certain 
that  my  Lord  Essex,  if  he  had  his  own  way, 

103 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

would  yield  him.  But  he  has  not  his  own  way, 
for  this  stubborn  Cromwell  fellow  clings  to  his 
prisoner." 

"Why  is  he  so  stubborn?"  Brilliana  asked. 
Rufus  smiled  sourly. 

"  Partly  because,  like  all  new-made  soldiers, 
he  is  punctilious  of  the  rules  of  war.  Partly  be- 
cause he  hopes  to  turn  his  capture  to  some  ac- 
count. Poor  Randolph  had  upon  him  a  letter 
in  cipher  from  the  King  to  a  certain  lord. 
Randolph  may  buy  his  life  with  the  key  to  the 
cipher." 

"He  will  never  do  that,"  Brilliana  said,  in 
proud  confidence  of  the  courage  of  her  house. 
She  was  silent  for  a  moment ;  then  she  gave  a 
little  cry  of  joy.  "  I  think  I  can  save  him,"  she 
exclaimed.  Rufus  stared  at  her  as  if  she  had 
lost  her  wits. 

"Why,  what  can  you  do?"  he  asked,  aston- 
ished. Brilliana  answered  with  a  glance  of 
profound  wisdom.  "I  think  I  know  a  way," 
and  she  nodded  her  head  sagely.  Then  she 
turned  and  moved  a  little  space  across  the  hall 
in  the  direction  of  that  window-seat  where 
Evander  sat  ensconced.  When  she  had  ad- 
vanced two  or  three  paces  she  called  to  him : 

"Captain  Cloud,  pray  favor  me  with  your 
company  for  a  few  moments  of  speech." 

104 


A   USE   FOR   A   PRISONER 

Evander's  consciousness  swam  to  the  surface 
of  a  pool  of  gloomy  thought  at  her  summons. 
He  rose  on  the  instant  and  came  down  the  hall 
towards  her. 

"  I  am  at  your  service,  lady,"  he  said.  Brill- 
iana  watched  him  closely  as  she  questioned. 

"You  say  you  are  a  friend  of  Mr.  Crom- 
well?" 

Evander  seemed  surprised  at  the  interroga- 
tion, but  he  answered,  simply,  "  I  am  so  fa- 
vored." 

"  Does  he  cherish  you  in  affection  ?"  Brilliana 
pursued,  still  watching  him  closely. 

"  He  loved  my  father,"  said  Evander.  "  If  I 
dared  to  think  it  I  should  say  he  loved  me,  too. 
Truly,  he  has  shown  me  much  regard." 

Brilliana  struck  her  palms  sharply  together 
with  the  air  of  one  who  has  solved  a  difficult 
problem. 

"Your  Mr.  Cromwell  has  taken  prisoner  a 
cousin  of  mine  whom  he  threatens  to  kill  as  a 
spy.  We  will  exchange  you  against  Mr.  Crom- 
well's prisoner." 

Evander  looked  steadily  back  at  her  with  a 
hint  of  mild  amusement  at  the  corners  of  his 
mouth. 

"  Colonel  Cromwell  will  never  exchange  a 
spy,"  he  responded,  decisively. 

I05 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

Rufus,  who  was  listening  to  the  conference, 
nodded  his  head  in  gloomy  assent.  "  That  is 
like  enough,"  he  agreed.  Brilliana  stamped  a 
foot  and  her  eyes  snapped  vexation. 

"We  shall  see,"  she  said,  sharply.  She 
turned  away  from  the  two  men  and  moved  to  a 
small  table  against  the  wall  that  carried  writing 
materials.  Seating  herself  thereat,  she  took  up 
a  goose-quill  and  began  to  write  rapidly  on  a 
large  sheet  of  paper.  When  she  had  finished 
she  looked  round,  and  beckoned  Rufus  to  her 
side  that  he  might  hear  what  she  had  written. 
She  read  it  aloud,  with  her  eyes  fixed  on  Evan- 
der's  impassive  face. 

"To  Colonel  Cromwell,  serving  with  my  Lord  Essex 
in  the  Parliamentary  army  lately  at  Edgehill.  My 
cousin,  Sir  Randolph  Harby,  is  a  prisoner  in  your  hands. 
Your  friend,  Mr.  Evander  Cloud,  is  a  prisoner  in  mine. 
I  will  exchange  my  prisoner  for  your  prisoner;  but  the 
life  of  Mr.  Evander  Cloud  is  answerable  for  the  life  of 
Randolph  Harby.  Such  is  the  sure  promise  and  stead- 
fast vow  of  his  cousin  and  the  King's  true  subject,  Brill- 
iana Harby." 

As  she  read,  the  dour  face  of  Rufus  brightened, 
and  he  rubbed  his  hands  in  satisfaction  at  the 
close. 

"By  the  Lord,  an  honest  thought,"  he 
chuckled.  "Swing  Randolph,  swing  rat-face." 

106 


A   USE.  FOR   A   PRISONER 

Evander  smiled  disdainfully. 

"I  am  no  spy,"  he  asserted,  firmly,  "and  by 
the  laws  of  war  you  have  no  right  to  my  life." 

Brilliana  turned  on  him  tauntingly. 

:'You  were  taken  a  rebel  in  arms  and  your 
life  is  at  my  mercy." 

"Then,"  said  Evander,  calmly,  "add  to  your 
letter  my  wish  that  Colonel  Cromwell  take  no 
thought  of  me." 

Brilliana  stamped  impatiently. 

"  I  am  not  your  secretary,"  she  said,  sharply. 

"It  does  not  matter,"  Evander  answered, 
smoothly.  "Colonel  Cromwell  will  follow  the 
laws  of  war." 

"I  am  sorry  for  you  if  he  do,"  Brilliana  de- 
clared. "  We  shall  test  the  strength  of  Colonel 
Cromwell's  love."  She  called,  loudly,  "John 
Thoroughgood. ' ' 

Thoroughgood  advanced  to  her  from  where 
he  stood  removed. 

"Ride  with  a  white  flag,"  Brilliana  went  on; 
"  ride  hard  to  my  Lord  Essex's  army,  wherever 
it  may  be.  Where  is  my  Lord  Essex,  Rufus?" 

"They  have  retired,  I  think,  upon  Warwick," 
Rufus  said,  doubtfully. 

"Well,"  Brilliana  continued,  "to  the  rebel 
army,  wherever  you  can  find  it.  Deliver  this 
letter  into  the  hands  of  Colonel  Cromwell. 

107 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

Bring  back  his  answer  swiftly.     Ride  as  if  you 
were  riding  for  your  life." 

Thoroughgood  saluted,  took  the  letter,  and 
turned  to  go.  Brilliana  stopped  him. 

"  First  quarter  Captain  Cloud  in  the  west 
room,  and  see  him  well  tended." 

Evander  bowed. 

"I  thank  you,"  he  said,  and  followed  Thor- 
oughgood out  of  the  room.  Brilliana  turned  to 
Rufus. 

"I  trust  you  will  all  feast  here  to-night." 

Rufus  shook  his  head  sadly. 

"  Tears  in  my  eyes  and  heart,  but  not  possi- 
ble. We  join  the  King  to-night  for  B anbury." 
He  came  close  to  her  and  spoke  low.  "  Bright 
Brilliana,  will  you  not  give  me  your  golden 
promise  ere  I  go?" 

"  You  must  not  ask  that  yet,"  Brilliana  plead- 
ed. "I  must  know  my  own  mind." 

Sir  Rufus  banged  his  hands  together. 

"  By  God,  I  know  mine,  and  my  mind  is  to 
win  you  if  I  have  to  kill  a  regiment  of  rivals." 

Brilliana  pretended  to  shudder  at  his  feroc- 
ity. 

"Lord!  you  are  a  very  violent  lover." 

Rufus  did  not  deny  her. 

"  I  am  a  very  earnest  lover,  a  very  desperate 
lover." 

108 


A    USE    FOR   A    PRISONER 

Brilliana  made  a  gesture  of  protest. 

"  Fie,  this  is  no  love-talk  time,  when  the  King 
is  fighting.  Ride,  gallant  Rufus,  come  back 
with  loyal  laurels  and  the  flags  of  canting  rebels, 
and  see  how  I  shall  welcome  you." 

Rufus  caught  her  hands. 

"Must  I  be  content  with  this?"  he  asked, 
hotly. 

"You  must  be  content  with  this,"  Brilliana 
replied,  coolly.  "  Here  come  your  brothers-in- 
arms." 

The  doors  of  the  ban que ting-hall  opened,  and 
Fawley,  Radlett,  Bardon,  Ingrow,  and  Half- 
man  came  in,  all  brighter  for  wine  and  food. 

"  Tis  boot  and  saddle,  Rufus,"  Fawley  cried. 

"I  am  yours,"  Rufus  answered.  He  bowed 
over  Brilliana's  fingers.  "Farewell,  lady." 

One  and  all  they  turned  and  left  her,  and  as 
they  tramped  into  the  air  the  chorus  of  the 
Cavalier  song  came  back  to  her  happy  ears. 

"And  we  will  sing,  boys,  God  bless  the  King,  boys, 
Cast  up  your  hats,  and  cry  Vive  le  Roy." 


XIII 
A   GILDED   CAGE 

EVANDER  awoke  in  a  strange  world  steeped 
in  lavender.  It  was  long  since  he  had  lain  so 
soft,  long  since  he  had  drifted  out  of  dreams  to 
breathe  lavender.  His  pleased  senses,  less  alert 
for  very  ease  and  pleasure,  denied  him  imme- 
diate knowledge  of  his  whereabouts.  He  saw  a 
fair  room,  well  appointed;  he  welcomed  the 
morning  sunlight  through  delicate,  unfamiliar 
curtains;  he  questioned  the  insisting  delicious- 
ness  of  lavender.  Where  was  he?  What  was 
this  chamber  of  calm  panelled  in  pale  oak  ?  It 
was  not  Ley  den,  it  was  not  Cambridge;  then  in 
a  flash  he  knew.  It  was  the  west  room  at 
Harby — Harby  where  he  lay  a  prisoner  on  parole, 
Harby  which  he  had  tried  to  take  and  which  had 
ended  by  taking  him.  He  leaped  from  his  bed 
instantly,  well  awake,  well  alive,  and  gaining 
the  window  peeped  through  the  parted  curtains. 
He  looked  out  across  the  moat  on  the  terrace 
to  the  rear  of  Harby,  beyond  which  lay  the 
spacious  gardens  for  which  Harby  was  held 

no 


A   GILDED    CAGE 

famous.  His  men  had  held  that  terrace  twenty- 
four  hours  earlier;  now  they  had  vanished  as  if 
they  had  never  been,  save  for  the  testimony  of 
the  trampled  grass.  In  their  place  a  solitary 
figure  sat  on  a  baluster  drinking  smoke  con- 
templatively from  a  pipe  of  clay.  Evander 
knew  him  for  Half  man — knew,  too,  that  Half- 
man  watched  there  for  him,  for  the  moment  the 
curtains  parted  the  sitter  rose  and,  advancing 
towards  the  edge  of  the  moat,  waved  and  voiced 
salutation  to  Evander. 

"Give  you  good-morning,  gallant  capitano," 
he  called.  "Jocund  day  stands  on  the  top  of 
yon  high  eastern  hill.  Will  it  please  your  wor- 
thiness to  be  stirring?" 

"Very  willingly,"  Evander  called  back. 
"Have  I  overslept?" 

Halfman  made  a  gesture  of  protestation. 

"Nay,  nay,"  he  answered.  'Your  time  is 
your  own  nag  here,  to  amble,  pad,  or  gallop  as 
you  choose.  Have  I  your  permission  to  wait 
upon  you  in  your  apartment?" 

On  Evander 's  assurances  that  nothing  would 
afford  him  greater  pleasure,  Halfman  favored 
him  with  a  military  salute,  and,  crossing  the 
moat  by  the  now  restored  bridge,  disappeared  in- 
side the  house.  Evander  hastened  to  clothe  him- 
self, a  task  which  he  had  but  partially  accom- 

iii 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

plished  when  the  drumming  of  a  pair  of  hands 
upon  the  door  informed  him  that  his  custodian 
waited  at  the  threshold.  He  opened  the  door, 
and  Halfman  walked  in  wearing  for  the  occa- 
sion a  manner  in  which  good-fellowship  and 
condescension,  with  the  consideration  of  a 
noble  victor  for  a  noble  vanquished,  were  art- 
fully blended  and  emphatically  interpreted. 
He  held  out  his  hand  for  Evander's  and  gave  to 
it  a  martial  pressure. 

"A  soldier  should  ever  be  abroad  betimes," 
he  asserted.  "Wherefore  I  applaud  your  ris- 
ing." 

Evander  inquired  again,  somewhat  anxiously, 
if  he  had  been  expected  to  appear  before,  which 
again  Halfman  denied. 

"Since  you  have  passed  your  parole,"  he 
affirmed,  "  Harby  Hall  is  Liberty  Hall  for  you 
as  far  as  to  the  park  limits.  I  would  have  bat- 
tered at  your  door  ere  this,  but  I  respected  your 
first  sleep  in  a  strange  bed,  wherein  often  a  bad 
night  makes  a  late  matins.  Can  you  break 
your  fast?" 

Evander  answering  that  he  could,  Halfman 
called  upon  him  to  follow,  and  led  the  way  into 
an  adjoining  room,  which  was,  so  he  assured 
Evander,  set  at  his  disposal  during  the  period 
of  his  stay.  The  room,  like  the  bedchamber, 

112 


A    GILDED    CAGE 

was  panelled  of  oak,  was  handsomely  furnished, 
and  its  long  windows,  which  occupied  almost 
the  entirety  of  one  wall,  afforded  the  same  view 
of  terrace  and  garden  that  Evander  had  al- 
ready seen.  Much  had  been  newly  done,  so 
Evander  could  see,  to  brighten  and  cheer  the 
place.  A  bowl  of  royal  roses  stood  on  the 
buffet,  and  Evander  smiled  at  the  delicate  defi- 
ance. In  the  alcove  of  the  window- seat  a  num- 
ber of  books  were  piled,  books  that  had  patently 
been  newly  dusted,  and  Evander,  glancing  at 
these,  found  that  they  were  all  theological,  an 
attention  which  made  him  smile.  A  table 
decked  with  lily-white  linen  and  silver  furniture 
bore  preparations  for  a  meal. 

"Here,  sir,"  said  Halfman,  cheerfully,  "for 
some  few  hours  of  flying  time,  you  are,  in  a 
word,  king  of  the  castle.  These  rooms  are 
yours  to  eat  in,  read  in,  pray  in,  sleep  in — 
what  you  please.  None  shall  disturb  your  pri- 
vacy without  your  leave." 

Evander  guessed  that  his  hostess  had  found 
this  way  of  treating  him  well  and  yet  keep- 
ing her  from  his  presence.  There  was  bitter- 
ness in  the  thought  that  she  must  needs  hate 
him  so  deeply.  It  may  be  that  something  of 
the  bitterness  of  the  thought  asserted  itself 
on  Evander's  face,  and  that  Halfman  misread 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

it  thinking  he  read  the  prisoner's  thoughts 
clearly. 

"  Do  not  think,"  he  proceeded,  "  that  you  are 
cabined  and  cribbed  to  these  walls.  All  Harby 
Park  is  your  pleasant  paradise  when  you  are 
pleased  to  walk  abroad,  and  after  you  have 
broken  your  fast  I  shall  be  pleased  to  guide  you 
through  its  glories.  And  now,  will  you  that  I 
eat  with  you?  I  have  kept  myself  fasting,  or 
wellnigh  fasting,  till  now,  but  if  you  would 
rather  break  your  bread  in  solitude  say,  without 
offence  given,  what  I  shall  hear  without  offence 
taken." 

Evander  assured  his  companion  that  he  de- 
sired his  company  of  all  things.  Indeed,  had 
Halfman  been  other  than  he  was,  Evander  would 
have  preferred  any  companionship  that  kept  him 
from  his  melancholy  thoughts.  And  already 
Halfman  attracted  him,  or  at  least  interested 
him.  His  fantastical  manner,  his  fluent  speech, 
his  assurance,  and  that  note  of  something  for- 
eign, odd,  as  characteristic,  as  conclusive,  as  the 
scorch  of  foreign  suns  upon  his  face,  appealed 
to  the  curiosity  in  Evander  which  ever  made 
men  books  for  him.  Halfman's  manner  grew 
more  expansive  at  Evander's  ready  accept- 
ance of  his  offer.  He  was  now  the  magnifi- 
cent host,  soldier  still,  but  soldier  at  his  ease, 

114 


A   GILDED    CAGE 

and  he  played  at  Lord  of  Harby  with  enthusi- 
asm. 

"You  are  in  the  right,"  he  said.  "It  is  ill 
for  man  to  sit  alone  at  meat,  for  it  encourages 
whimsical  humors  and  the  mounting  of  cru- 
dities to  the  brain.  A  flagon  is  twice  a  flagon 
that  is  shared  by  camerados,  and  who  can  praise 
a  pasty  to  himself  with  only  dumb  walls  to  echo 
his  plaudits?  And  here  in  good  time  come 
flagon  and  pasty,  both." 

The  door  had  opened  as  he  spoke,  and  Mis- 
tress Satchell  came  into  the  room,  followed  by 
a  brace  of  serving-men  who  bore  on  trays  the 
materials  for  an  ample  repast.  Half  man  eyed 
the  viands  with  approval,  while  Evander  re- 
turned gravely  Mrs.  Satchell's  florid  bobs  and 
greetings. 

"I  saw  to  it  last  night,"  he  went  on,  "that 
Harby  was  revictualled.  You  pinched  us,  sir, 
you  pared  us ;  our  larder  was  as  lean  as  a  stork's 
leg,  but  to-day  we  can  eat  our  fill." 

And,  indeed,  the  table  now  being  spread  by 
Mrs.  Satchell's  directions  bore  out  the  assertion 
of  Half  man.  Jolly,  white  loaves,  a  grinning 
boar's  head,  a  pasty  with  a  golden  dome,  a  ham 
the  color  of  a  pink  flower,  and  a  dish  of  cold 
game  tempted  hunger  where  flagons  of  white 
wine  and  red  wine  tempted  thirst.  Halfman 
9  115 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

dismissed  Mrs.  Satchell  and  her  satellites  af- 
fably. 

"We  can  wait  upon  ourselves,"  he  averred. 
"  We  shall  be  more  private  so,"  and  he  motioned 
Evander  to  a  seat  and  took  his  own  place  oppo- 
site. "Yes,"  he  said,  resuming  the  thread  of 
his  thought,  as  he  piled  a  plate  for  Evander, 
"you  did  your  best  to  starve  us;  we  must  not 
do  the  like  by  you." 

Evander  smiled  as  he  stayed  the  generosity 
of  his  host's  hands  and  accepted  from  his  re- 
luctance a  plate  less  lavishly  charged  with 
viands  than  Halfman  had  proposed  to  offer 
him. 

'  Yet,"  he  said,  "  I  think  I  heard,  no  later  ago 
than  yesterday,  much  clatter  of  dishes  and 
much  rattling  of  cups  and  all  the  sounds  of 
plenty." 

Halfman  hurriedly  bolted  a  goodly  slice  of 
ham  lest  it  should  choke  him  while  he  laughed, 
which  he  now  did  heartily,  lolling  back  in  his 
chair.  He  was  honestly  amused,  and  yet  it 
seemed  to  Evander  as  if  there  were  something 
in  his  strange  friend's  mirth  which  was  care- 
fully calculated  to  produce  its  effect.  Indeed, 
Halfman,  as  he  laughed,  was  thinking  of  Sir 
John  Falstaff's  full-bodied  thunders  over  some 
ticklish  misdoings  of  Bardolph  or  Nym.  When 

116 


A   GILDED    CAGE 

he  had  enough  of  his  own  performance,  he  al- 
lowed the  laughter  to  die  as  suddenly  as  it  had 
dawned,  and  gave  tongue. 

"That  was  the  best  jest  in  the  world,"  he 
chuckled.  "Clatter  of  dishes,  say  you,  and 
rattle  of  cups.  Once,  when  I  was  in  Aleppo,  I 
heard  an  old  fellow  in  an  Abraham  beard  telling 
a  tale  to  a  crowd  of  Moors.  I  had  not  enough 
of  their  lingo  to  know  why  they  laughed,  but 
one  who  was  with  me  that  had  more  Moorish 
told  me  the  tale.  It  was  of  one  who  invited  a 
poor  man  to  his  house  and  pretended  to  feed  him 
nobly,  naming  this  fair  dish  and  that  fine  wine, 
and  pressing  meat  and  drink  upon  him,  while 
all  the  while,  in  very  mockery,  there  was  neither 
bite  in  any  platter  nor  sup  in  any  bottle.  Well, 
excellent  sir,  our  table  of  yesterday  was  in  some 
such  case." 

Evander  nodded.  "I  guessed  as  much,"  he 
commented.  "  But,  indeed,  it  was  bravely 
done." 

"It  was  bravely  devised,"  Halfman  asserted. 
"  It  was  my  lady's  thought.  She  would  never 
let  a  rascally  Roundhead — I  crave  your  pardon, 
she  would  never  let  an  enemy — dream  that  we 
were  in  lack  of  aught  at  Harby  that  could  help 
us  to  serve  the  King." 

"Your  lady  is  a  very  brave  lady,"  Evander 

117 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

said,  quietly.  Halfman  caught  at  his  words 
with  a  kind  of  cheer  in  his  voice. 

"  Hippolyta  was  not  more  valiant,  nor  Par- 
thian Candace,  nor  French  Joan.  She  is  the 
rose  of  the  world,  the  fairest  fair,  the  valiantest 
valor.  There  is  no  wine  in  the  world  that  is 
worthy  to  pledge  her,  but  we  must  do  our  best 
with  what  we  have." 

He  filled  himself  a  spacious  tankard  as  he 
spoke  and  drained  it  at  a  draught.  Evander 
listened  to  his  ebullient  praises  in  silence.  He 
did  not  think  that  the  Lady  of  Harby  should 
be  so  spoken  of  and  by  such  an  one.  Over- 
eating and  especially  over-drinking  were  ever 
distasteful  to  him,  and  he  took  it  that  Half- 
man was  on  the  high-road  to  becoming  drunk. 
But  in  this  he  was  wrong.  When  Halfman  set 
down  his  vessel  he  was  as  sober  as  when  he  had 
lifted  it,  but  of  a  sudden  a  shade  graver,  as  if 
Evander 's  silence  had  shadowed  his  boisterous 
gayety.  He  pushed  the  beaker  from  him  with 
a  sigh,  and  then,  seeing  that  Evander 's  plate 
was  empty,  offered  to  ply  him  with  more  food. 
On  Evander's  refusal  he  pushed  back  his  chair. 
"Well,"  he  said,  "if  your  stomach  is  stayed, 
are  you  for  a  stroll  in  the  gardens — will  you  see 
lawns  and  parks  of  fairyland  ?" 

Evander  willingly  acquiesced,  and  the  strange- 
118 


A    GILDED    CAGE 

ly  assorted  pair  rose  and  quitted  the  chamber. 
They  met  Mistress  Satchell  on  the  threshold, 
and  Tiffany  hiding  slyly  behind  her  highness. 
Evander  smilingly  complimented  Mistress  Satch- 
ell on  the  excellence  of  her  table,  to  the  good 
dame's  great  gratification.  But  much  to  Tif- 
fany's indignation  he  paid  little  heed  to  her 
pretty  face. 


XIV 
A    PASSAGE    AT   ARMS 

THE  vane  of  Halfman's  attitude  towards  the 
captive  had  veered  strongly  in  the  past  half- 
hour.  He  had  been  ready  to  treat  him  well, 
for  such  was  Brilliana's  pleasure ;  he  was  willing 
to  make  friends  and  taste  the  agreeables  of  the 
magnanimous  victor.  But  the  conquered  man 
had  gained  no  ground  that  morning  in  the 
heart  of  one  of  his  conquerors.  He  ate  little, 
which  Halfman  pitied;  he  drank  little,  which 
Halfman  despised;  and  it  was  with  a  much- 
augmented  disdain  that  he  beheld  Evander 
dash  his  solitary  cup  with  water. 

"Craftily  qualified,  curse  him,"  he  thought; 
"the  fellow's  a  damned  Cassio,  and  will  be 
fumbling  with  his  right  hand  and  his  left  in  a 
twinkle." 

In  this  he  was  disappointed;  Evander's 
draught  wrought  no  havoc  in  his  speech  or 
demeanor ;  Halfman  was  more  disappointed  that 
the  prisoner  took  so  coldly  his  laudations  of  his 
lady. 

I2O 


A   PASSAGE   AT   ARMS 

"  The  Roundpoll  is  soTnad  to  be  mastered  by 
a  woman  that  he  has  not  enough  gentility  in  his 
thin  wits  to  spur  him  to  a  compliment." 

His  hostile  thoughts  brewed  in  his  heated 
brain-pan  till  their  fumes  fevered  him.  As  he 
led  the  way  by  stair  and  corridor,  his  mood  for 
quarrel  grew  the  keener  that  he  knew  his 
choler  could  find  no  hope  of  ventage  with  a 
prisoner  committed  to  his  care.  And  even  as 
he  thought  this,  chance  seemed  to  furnish  him 
with  some  occasion  for  satisfaction.  They  were 
passing  by  the  open  door  of  a  room  which  had 
long  been  used  as  a  place  of  arms  at  Harby,  and 
its  walls  were  hung  with  weapons  of  the  time 
and  weapons  of  an  earlier  generation.  Half- 
man  had  passed  much  time  there  with  the 
brisker  fellows  of  the  garrison,  breaking  them 
in  to  feats  of  weapon-play,  and  he  smiled  at  the 
memory  and  the  magnitude  of  his  own  dexterity. 
He  paused  for  a  moment  at  the  threshold  and 
looked  round  at  Evander. 

"Here,"  he  said,  with  a  smile  that  was  half 
a  leer  and  an  intonation  that  was  little  less 
than  a  sneer — "  here  is  a  spot  that  will  scarce 
have  enough  attraction  for  your  worship  to 
merit  your  worship's  stay." 

Evander,  who  had  been  following  his  guide 
almost  mechanically,  enveloped  in  his  own  gray 

121 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

reflections,  took  surprised  note  of  his  com- 
panion's changed  bearing.  Up  to  now  he  had 
been  civil  enough,  even  if  his  civility  had  not 
been  of  a  quality  greatly  to  Evander's  liking, 
yet  now  his  blustering  good-humor  gave  place 
to  something  akin  to  deliberate  offence.  But 
he  might  be  mistaken,  and  it  was  not  for  a 
prisoner  to  snatch  at  straws  of  quarrel.  There- 
fore he  protested,  courteously: 

"Why  should  you  think  that  a  soldier  takes 
no  interest  in  a  soldier's  tools?" 

Halfman  gave  a  shrug  to  his  shoulders  that 
might  or  might  not  be  intended  to  annoy. 

"Your  worship  is  too  raw  a  soldier  to  know 
much  of  these  same  tickers  and  tappers.  Let  us 
rather  to  the  library  for  volumes  of  divinity." 

This  time  the  intention  to  affront  was  so 
patent,  so  patent,  too,  that  Half  man's  temper 
was  getting  the  better  of  whatever  discretion  he 
possessed,  that  Evander's  face  hardened,  and 
yet  for  his  own  reasons  he  still  spoke  mildly 
enough : 

"  There  is  no  need  to  call  me  worship,  for  I  can 
claim  no  such  title.  But  I  think  I  know  some- 
thing of  these  trinkets,  and  with  your  leave  will 
examine  them." 

He  passed  by  Halfman  as  he  spoke  and  en- 
tered the  room,  where  he  immediately  busied 

122 


A    PASSAGE    AT   ARMS 

himself  in  the  examination  of  some  of  the 
weapons  displayed  there,  and  apparently  ig- 
noring Half  man's  existence.  Halfman  watched 
him  with  a  scowl  for  a  moment  and  then  fol- 
lowed him  into  the  room. 

"Your  honor,"  he  said—  •"  since  you  will  not 
be  called  worship — your  honor  really  has  a  use 
for  these  toys  of  gentlefolk?" 

Evander  had  taken  a  handsome  Italian  ra- 
pier from  its  case  against  the  wall,  and,  after 
glancing  at  its  blade,  was  weighing  and  testing 
the  weapon  in  the  air.  As  he  gave  Halfman 
no  answer,  the  latter  took  up  the  talk  again, 
provocatively : 

"  I  cannot  deny  that  your  honor  showed  fight 
briskly  enough  yester  evening,  but  then  it  seem- 
ed little  less  than  fight  or  die,  and  even  a  rat,  if 
you  corner  him,  will  snap  for  dear  life.  More- 
over, you  were  well  ambushed,  and  there  was 
a  gentle  lady  present  who  would  not  see  a  rat 
butchered  unnecessarily." 

Evander,  still  weighing  the  fine  Italian  blade, 
turned  to  Halfman  and  addressed  him  with  an 
exasperating  composure. 

"Friend,"  he  said,  "I  have  told  you  that  I 
am  not  unacquainted  with  arms.  When  I  am  a 
free  man  I  enforce  belief  in  my  word.  As  it 
is—" 

123 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

He  left  his  sentence  uncompleted,  and  with  a 
contemptuous  shrug  of  his  shoulders  proceeded 
on  his  journey  round  the  room,  still  carrying 
the  Italian  rapier  in  his  hand.  Under  his  tan 
Half  man's  face  blazed  and  his  eyes  glittered, 
but  he  spoke  with  a  forced  calm  and  a  feigned 
civility : 

"  Say  you  so  much  ?  Why,  I  believe  your  hon- 
or, surely.  Yet,  as  they  say,  seeing  is  believing, 
and  if  you  are  in  the  vein  for  a  gentle  and  joy- 
ous passage  with  buttoned  arms,  I  that  am  here 
to  entertain  your  honor  would  not  for  the  world's 
width  gainsay  you." 

Evander  eyed  him  quietly.  "  Are  you  ready 
at  fence?"  he  inquired.  "I  shall  be  pleased  to 
take  a  lesson  from  you." 

Half  man's  heart  warmed  at  his  words.  "  The 
coney  creeps  towards  the  gin,"  he  thought,  ex- 
ultantly; then  he  answered,  aloud: 

"  Why,  if  you  have  a  stomach  for  it  you  shall 
not  be  crossed.  Here  be  two  buttoned  rapiers, 
true  twins  —  length,  weight,  workmanship.  I 
will  beleather  them  in  a  twink.  I  promise  you 
I  would  not  hurt  your  honor." 

"You  are  very  good,"  Evander  answered, 
gravely.  Halfman  was  already  busy  tying  two 
large  pads  of  leather  the  size  of  small  oranges 
onto  the  buttoned  blades.  While  he  was  at 

124 


A   PASSAGE   AT   ARMS 

work  Evander  occupied  himself  with  the  con- 
tents of  the  room  until  Half  man,  having  fin- 
ished his  job,  advanced  towards  him  with  the 
weapons  extended.  Suddenly  he  paused. 

"Stop!"  he  said.  "Let  us  make  a  wager  on 
our  game.  I  always  play  with  more  heart  so. 
Here  is  my  stake." 

He  began  to  fumble  at  his  doublet,  and  pres- 
ently produced  from  an  inner  pocket  a  great 
thumb-ring  with  a  ruby  in  it. 

"I  gained  that,"  he  said,  "at  the  sacking  of 
a  Spanish  town.  Tis  worth  a  pope's  ransom. 
Set  what  you  please  against  it." 

Evander  lifted  the  ring  from  the  table  where 
Halfman  placed  it  and  took  it  to  the  window  to 
look  at  it  closely.  Presently  he  laid  it  on  the 
table  again. 

"It  is  a  goodly  ring,"  he  observed.  "The 
setting  is  old  and  curious,  and  the  stone,  though 
it  has 'a  slight  flaw  in  it,  as  you  have  been  doubt- 
less told  before  now,  is  worth  more  than  any 
poor  possessions  I  have  about  my  person. 
Wherefore  I  would  rather  we  contended  for 
love." 

Halfman  shook  his  head.  He  was  a  thought 
dashed  by  Evander's  discovery  of  the  blemish  in 
the  stone,  and  he  carried  off  his  discomfiture 
by  bravado 

125 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"Nay,  nay,"  he  answered;  "there  is  my 
stake.  Set  what  you  please  against  it,  were  it 
no  more  than  a  silver  groat.  I  do  not  ask  to  be 
paid  well  for  my  lesson." 

Evander  said  nothing,  but  drew  his  purse 
from  his  pocket  and  laid  it  on  the  table. 
Through  the  meshes  Halfman  could  see  the 
gleam  of  a  few  pieces  of  gold,  and  the  gleam 
cheered  him,  as  it  always  did.  He  was  ever 
greedy  of  gold,  and  thought  the  death  of  Crassus 
not  unkingly. 

"Choose  your  blade,"  he  said.  Evander, 
with  a  quick  glance  at  the  two  weapons,  selected 
the  one  nearest  to  him,  flung  his  hat  onto  a 
chair,  stripped  off  his  doublet,  and  quietly 
waited  for  his  adversary.  Halfman  did  not 
keep  him  long.  He  flung  his  hat  and  doublet 
on  the  floor  and  advanced. 

"Are  you  ready?"  he  asked.  Evander  sa- 
luted in  silence,  and  in  another  moment  the  an- 
tagonists engaged  and  the  mock  duello  began. 
Halfman  expected  that  it  would  be  short,  but  it 
proved  much  shorter  than  he  expected.  He  was 
far  too  good  a  swordsman  not  to  know  when  he 
had  encountered  a  better.  The  thing  had  not 
happened  to  him  very  often;  it  happened  very 
flagrantly  now.  In  less  than  five  minutes 
Evander  had  placed  the  muffled  button  of  his 

126 


A   PASSAGE   AT   ARMS 

blade  three  times  on  Halfman's  person — once 
upon  either  breast,  and  the  third  time  fair  on 
the  forehead,  just  between  the  eyes.  The  last 
blow  was  so  surely  delivered  that  had  it  been 
given  with  greater  force  it  might  have  knocked 
the  receiver  senseless.  As  it  was,  however,  it 
was  given  with  such  deliberate  delicacy  that, 
though  Halfman's  head  hummed  for  the  mo- 
ment and  his  eyes  saw  stars,  he  rallied  quick- 
ly enough  to  stare  at  Evander  where  he  stood 
with  lowered  point  and  to  tender  him  a  saluta- 
tion of  honest  admiration. 

"Great  Jove  of  glory!"  he  gasped;  "who  was 
it  that  ran  liquid  steel  into  your  spare  body?" 

Evander  smiled  at  the  new  change  in  his 
chameleon  companion. 

"  I  learned  a  little  fencing  when  I  was  in 
Paris,"  he  admitted.  "I  fear  I  was  over- 
inclined  for  the  pastime." 

"A  little  fencing!"  Halfman  ejaculated.  "A 
little  fencing!  Why,  man,  that  botte  between 
the  eyes  would  have  done  for  me,  even  if  you 
had  not  spitted  both  my  lungs  first.  No  one 
can  ever  say  of  you  that  you  held  your  sword 
like  a  dancer.  Give  me  your  hand — by  God!  I 
must  grip  your  hand." 

"Sir,"  said  Evander,  as  the  pair  clasped 
hands  with  the  hearty  clasp  of  true  combatants, 

127 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"you  overpraise  me;  yet  for  your  friendly 
praises  I  have  a  favor  to  ask  of  you." 

"Name  it  and  it  is  done,"  Halfman  assever- 
ated, with  an  oath,  "  were  it  to  pluck  a  purple 
hair  for  you  from  the  beard  of  the  Grand  Cham 
himself." 

"  Tis  no  such  matter,"  Evander  answered. 
"  I  do  but  entreat  you  of  your  courtesy  to  take 
back  your  ring,  for  which  in  very  truth  I  have 
no  use." 

Halfman  protested  a  little  for  form's  sake, 
then  gave  way,  glad  enough  to  pouch  his  jewel 
again. 

"  You  are  a  gentleman, ' '  he  declared.  "  Come, 
let  us  taste  the  air  in  the  gardens." 


XV 
MY   LADY'S    PLEASAUNCE 

THE  gardens  of  Harby  were  captain  jewels 
in  the  crown  of  Oxfordshire.  From  the  terrace 
they  spread  in  spaces  of  changeful  beauty  over 
many  acres  of  fruitful  earth.  Evander  had 
seen  to  it  that  no  further  harm  was  done  to 
these  lovely  spaces  than  was  inevitable  for  the 
conduct  of  the  siege.  There  were  some  in  his 
company,  hissing  hot  zealots,  who  were  all  for 
laying  violating  hands  upon  the  temples  of  Baal 
and  the  shrines  of  Ashtaroth,  by  which  Evander 
rightly  interpreted  them  to  mean  the  plea- 
saunces  of  clipped  yews,  the  rose  bowers,  the 
box  hedges,  and  the  generous  autumnal  orchards. 
They  were  eager  to  show  their  scorn  of  the 
Amalekites  by  the  lopping  of  ancient  trees  and 
the  treading  of  colored  blossoms  under  the 
heel  of  Israel.  But  Evander  was  as  firm  as 
these  were  frantic,  and  the  gardens  of  Harby 
smiled  through  familiar  process  of  sun  and 
rain  and  dew,  untroubled  by  the  daily  rattle 
of  musketry  and  the  nightly  tramp  of  sentinels. 

129 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

Evander  reaped  a  reward  for  which  he  had 
not  labored  in  his  chivalry  to  a  belligerent  and 
besieged  lady.  For  the  gardens  that  a  con- 
queror had  preserved  were  now  very  fair  indeed 
for  a  conquered  man  to  walk  in.  The  October 
sun  shone  as  if  the  royal  triumph,  yonder  at 
Edgehill  and  here  at  Harby,  had  rekindled 
summer  on  the  chilling  altar  of  the  year,  and 
the  hues  of  the  lingering  flowers  flamed  in  the 
celestial  fires. 

If  Evander's  thoughts  were  sable,  he  did  not 
allow  them  to  stain  the  fair  day  and  his  com- 
panion's gayety.  Halfman  swam  now  in  the 
extravagance  of  admiration  for  so  miraculous  a 
Puritan.  Halfman  loved  the  apostles  best  on 
spoons  of  silver  in  a  sea-bag  swollen  with  loot, 
but  of  the  men  he  had  the  best  word  for  Peter, 
who  could  use  a  sword  on  occasion.  And  here 
was  one  of  the  saints  on  earth  playing  his 
rapier  as  bravely  as  if  he  had  been  a  gentleman 
born  or  gentleman  adventurer  made,  and  had 
skimmed  the  seas  and  kissed  and  killed  and 
pilfered. 

He  plied  Evander,  as  they  paced,  with  ques- 
tions of  swordsmanship  and  schools  of  arms  and 
masters,  of  the  Italian  method  and  the  Spanish 
method  and  the  French  method,  and  never 
caught  his  new  Hector  tripping  over  a  push  or  a 

130 


MY    LADY'S   PLEASAUNCE 

parade.  They  moved  over  danceable  lawns  or 
under  the  canopies  of  dim  avenues,  chattering 
of  arms,  till  the  soft  October  air  tingled  with 
the  names  of  famous  fencers,  and  Halfman  was 
in  fancy  a  lubber  lad  again  at  his  first  passado. 

But  his  wonder  grew  with  their  wanderings. 
They  paused  at  the  bowling-green  and  played 
a  game  which  Evander  won.  They  visited  the 
stables  where  the  horses  now  were  rallied,  that 
had  lived  hidden  in  farm -yard  and  cottage 
garden  during  the  siege.  Here  Halfman  learned 
that  Evander  liked  hawks  and  loved  horses,  and 
knew  their  manage  better  than  himself.  Had 
Evander  proclaimed  himself  a  whisperer,  it 
would  not  now  have  astonished  Halfman. 

Again,  as  they  passed  by  the  orchard  where 
Luke  Gardener  was  busy,  Halfman  must  needs 
bring  Luke  and  Evander  acquainted,  where- 
upon the  pair  set  straight  to  talking  of  garden 
talk  and  airing  of  weather  wisdom  in  speech 
long  since  to  him  as  unfamiliar  as  Hebrew. 
Here  Evander 's  science  wearied  him,  and  he 
fairly  dragged  his  captive  away,  declaring  that 
there  was  yet  much  to  see  more  honorable  than 
herbs  or  brambles.  Evander  obeyed  very  con- 
tentedly, but  they  had  not  moved  many  paces 
when  Luke  came  hobbling  after,  and,  catching 
Halfman,  drew  him  by  the  arm  apart. 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"  Is  yonder  truly  a  damnable  Roundhead?"  he 
questioned.  Halfman  nodded  his  head. 

"Well,"  continued  Luke,  "for  that  he  de- 
serves to  be  hanged,  and  yet  he  has  taught 
me  a  trick  of  grafting  roses  which  he  says  the 
Dutch  use  that  might  serve  to  save  a  worser 
man  from  the  gallows." 

Without  a  word  Halfman  shook  his  arm  free 
and  rejoined  Evander,  who  was  moving  slowly 
along  a  pathway  leading  towards  an  enclosure  of 
fantastically  clipped  yews.  Hearing  the  foot- 
steps behind  him,  Evander  halted  till  Halfman 
joined  him. 

"  How  the  devil  came  you  to  fathom  flower 
knowledge?"  Halfman  asked.  Evander  smiled 
faintly. 

"  I  would  rather  you  unsaddled  the  devil  from 
your  question,"  he  answered,  rebuking  in  his 
mind  a  woman ;  "  but  I  have  always  loved  gar- 
dens. You  have  one  here  who  is  skilled  in 
topiary,"  and  he  pointed  towards  the  trim  yew 
hedge  they  were  approaching. 

"Those  are  the  green  walls  of  my  lady's 
pleasaunce,"  Halfman  answered,  "and  the 
learned  in  such  trifles  call  them  mighty  fine. 
But  all  I  know  of  woodcraft  is  hatcheting  me  a 
path  through  virgin  forest." 

"Where,  indeed,  your  topiarist  would  be  ill 
132 


MY   LADY'S   PLEASAUNCE 

at  ease,"  Evander  answered.  "  But  I  pray  you 
let  us  retire,  lest  we  intrude  upon  your  lady." 

"Never  fear  for  that,"  said  Halfman.  "My 
lady  is  busy  enough  in-doors  to-day,  setting  her 
house  to  rights,  and  you  should  not  miss  the 
comeliest  nook  in  all  the  domain." 

As  he  spoke  he  passed  under  an  archway  of 
clipped  yew,  and,  Evander  following,  the  pair 
came  upon  a  grassy  space  entirely  girdled 
with  yew  hedges,  the  sight  of  which  instantly 
justified  to  Evander  the  praise  of  his  com- 
panion. The  enclosure  made  a  circle  some 
half  an  acre  in  size  of  the  greenest  turf  imag- 
inable, orderly  bordered  with  seats  of  white 
marble  and  belted  all  about  with  the  black 
greenness  of  the  yew-tree  hedge,  which  was 
fashioned  like  an  Italian  colonnade.  The  arches 
afforded  vistas  of  different  and  delightful  pros- 
pects of  the  park  at  every  quarter  of  the  card — 
woodland,  savanna -like  lawns,  flower-gardens, 
kitchen-gardens,  and  orchards  in  their  pride. 

"This  is  a  lovely  place,"  protested  Evander. 
"One  might  sit  here  and  dream  of  seeing  the 
shy  wood-nymphs  flitting  through  these  aisles — 
if  one  had  no  better  thoughts  for  one's  idleness," 
he  added.  Halfman  laughed. 

"There  peeped  out  the  Puritan,"  he  said. 
"  I  had  lost  him  this  long  while,  but  run  him  to 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

earth  in  my  lady's  pleasaunce.  Yet  you  are  a 
queer  kind  of  Puritan,  too.  You  can  fence  like 
a  Frenchman,  you  can  play  bowls  as  Father 
Jove  plays  with  the  globes  of  heaven,  and  you 
can  ride  like  Diomed,  the  jolly  Greek,  who  knew 
that  horses  could  be  stridden  as  well  as  driven." 

Evander,  who  had  seated  himself  and  had 
been  tracing  cabalistic  signs  on  the  grass  with 
his  staff,  looked  up  into  his  companion's  face. 

"  Are  not  you  rather  a  queer  kind  of  Cavalier," 
he  asked,  "  if  you  think  that  a  Puritan  must 
needs  be  a  fool?" 

Half  man  laughed  back  at  him,  and  as  he 
laughed  he  showed  his  teeth  so  seeming  white 
by  contrast  with  his  sunburned  cheeks,  and  he 
seemed  to  Evander  more  than  ever  like  some 
half-tamed  beast  of  prey. 

"  You  are  no  fool,  Puritan,"  Halfman  shouted, 
"  or  Heaven  would  not  have  wasted  its  time 
in  gracing  you  with  such  skill  at  sports.  So 
great  with  the  rapier,  so  wise  on  the  bias.  No, 
no ;  you  are  no  fool.  I  am  almost  sad  to  think 
you  quit  us  so  soon,  enemy  though  you  be." 

While  Halfman  had  been  babbling,  Evander 
had  again  been  busy  with  his  staff.  Halfman 
had  paid  no  heed  to  his  actions,  being  far  too 
deep  in  his  own  phrases.  Had  he  been  attentive 
he  might  have  noticed  that  at  first  Evander 

134 


MY    LADY'S    PLEASAUNCE 

wrote  on  the  green  grass,  as  vainly  as  he  might 
have  written  in  water,  a  word,  a  name:  Bril- 
liana.  Had  he  been  attentive  he  might  have 
noticed  that  Evander  now  wrote  another  word 
that  was  also  a  name  and  more  than  a  name: 
Death.  But  he  did  not  notice,  and  as  he  ended 
with  his  odd  tribute  to  his  enemy,  Evander  look- 
ed up  at  him  with  a  calm  face. 

"  I  shall  not  quit  you  so  soon,"  he  said,  in  an 
even  voice.  "I  have  come  to  stay  at  Harby." 

Halfman  looked  at  him,  puzzled. 

"Stay  at  Harby,"  he  repeated.  " Nonsense, 
man;  what  are  you  thinking  of?  You  will  be 
riding  hence  in  three  days'  time,  when  Sir 
Randolph  is  released." 

Evander  shook  his  head. 

"  Sir  Randolph  will  not  be  released,"  he  said. 
The  quiet  positiveness  in  his  tone  staggered 
Halfman.  Stooping,  with  his  hands  resting  on 
his  knees,  his  unquiet  eyes  stared  into  Evander's 
quiet  eyes. 

"Sir  Randolph  will  not  be  released!  Why 
the  devil  will  Sir  Randolph  not  be  released?" 

Evander  rose  from  his  seat  and  rested  his 
hand  for  a  moment  lightly  on  Halfman's  arm, 
while  he  said,  impressively: 

"Say  nothing  of  this  to  your  lady,  for  Sir 
Randolph  is  her  kinsman,  and  I  think  she  holds 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

him  dear.  Let  ill  news  come  late.  But  if 
Colonel  Cromwell  has  taken  a  spy  prisoner,  that 
spy  will  very  surely  die." 

Halfman  stiffened  himself.  His  eyes  had 
never  left  Evander's,  and  he  knew  that  Evander 
s*poke  what  he  believed.  He  gave  a  short  laugh. 

"  And  very  surely  if  Sir  Randolph  be  shot  over 
yonder  you  will  be  shot  down  here." 

"That,"  said  Evander,  still  smiling,  "is  why 
I  say  that  I  have  come  to  stay  at  Harby." 

:'  You  take  your  fate  blithely,"  Halfman  com- 
mented, scanning  Evander  with  curiosity.  He 
was  familiar  with  the  sight  of  men  in  peril  of 
death;  in  most  men  he  took  courage  for  granted, 
but  it  was  courage  of  a  gaudier  quality  than  the 
composure  of  the  young  Puritan,  who  had 
fenced  with  him  and  played  bowls  with  him 
that  very  morning  and  talked  so  learnedly  of 
roses  with  Luke,  the  gardener.  Was  there 
really  something  in  the  Puritan  stuff  that 
strengthened  men's  spirits?  Evander  answered 
his  words  and  unconsciously  his  thoughts. 

"  I  should  not  have  taken  up  arms  if  I  held 
my  life  too  precious.  It  will  need  three  days 
to  get  the  answer,  the  inevitable  answer,  and  in 
the  mean  time  the  autumn  air  is  kind  and  these 
gardens  delightful." 

Halfman  stared  at  him  in  an  ecstasy  of  ad- 
136 


MY    LADY'S   PLEASAUNCE 

miration,  and  then  dealt  him  an  applauding 
clap  on  the  shoulder. 

"Come  to  the  kitchen-garden,  philosopher," 
he  cried.  "  A  fellow  of  your  phlegm  should  find 
pleasure  in  the  contemplation  of  cabbages." 

"It  is  a  sage  vegetable,"  Evander  answered. 
"  But  I  fear  I  tax  your  time.  There  must  be 
much  for  you  to  do." 

"I  have  done  much  already,"  Halfman  re- 
plied. "  But,  indeed,  these  be  busy  times." 

"Then,"  protested  Evander,  "when  I  have 
stared  my  fill  at  your  meditative  cabbage  I 
shall  entreat  no  more  of  your  kindness  but  that 
you  convoy  me  to  the  safe  port  of  the  library, 
where  I  shall  be  content  enough." 

"As  you  please,"  Halfman  responded.  "I 
was  never  a  bookish  man;  I  care  for  no  books 
but  play-books  and  these  I  carry  here,"  and  he 
beat  his  brown  forehead.  "  But  you  may  nose 
out  some  theologies  in  odd  corners,  as  a  pig 
noses  truffles." 

"  I  shall  rout  out  something  to  fill  my  leisure 
I  doubt  not,"  Evander  answered. 

"Then  hey  for  the  kitchen -gar den,"  cried 
Halfman,  taking  Evander 's  arm,  and  the  two 
men,  passing  through  a  yew  arch  opposite  to 
that  by  which  they  had  entered,  left  my  lady's 
pleasaunce  as  solitary  as  they  had  found  it. 


XVI 
A    PURITAN    APPRAISED 

IT  did  not  remain  solitary  long.  Unawares, 
the  steps  of  Halfman  and  Evander  had  been 
dogged  ever  since  they  crossed  the  moat  and  set 
out  on  their  pilgrimage  through  the  gardens. 
Crouching  behind  hedges,  lingering  in  coppices, 
peeping  through  thickets,  two  persistent  track- 
ers had  pursued  the  unconscious  quarry.  Scarce- 
ly had  the  shadows  of  Evander  and  his  compan- 
ion vanished  from  the  grasses  of  the  pleasaunce 
than  the  pursuers  emerged  from  the  shelter 
of  a  yew  screen  and  ran  into  the  open,  staring 
after  the  departing  pair.  Yet  these  pursuers 
were  no  stealthy  enemies,  but  merely  creatures 
spurred  by  an  irresistible  curiosity.  One  was 
stout  and  red  faced  and  inclined  to  breathe  hard 
after  the  fatigues  of  the  chase.  The  other  was 
slim  and  smooth,  with  ripe  cheeks  and  bright  eyes, 
lodgings  for  the  insolence  of  youth.  In  a  word, 
the  hunters  were  Mistress  Satchell  and  pretty 
Tiffany,  who  had  found  their  Puritan  prisoner 
and  visitor  a  being  of  considerable  interest. 

138 


A   PURITAN   APPRAISED 

Mistress  Satchell  turned  a  damp,  shining  face 
and  a  questioning  eye  upon  Tiffany. 

"  Is  not  he  a  dashing  lad  for  a  Puritan  ?"  she 
gasped,  patting  her  ample  chest  with  both 
hands  as  if  to  fondle  her  newly  recovered 
breath.  Tiffany,  who  was  bearing  her  mis- 
tress's lute,  shrugged  and  pouted. 

"I  see  little  to  like  in  him,"  she  snapped. 
This  was  not  at  all  true,  but  she  was  not  going 
to  admit  as  much  to  Mistress  Satchell,  or,  for 
that  matter,  to  herself.  Mistress  Satchell  snort- 
ed fiercely,  like  an  offended  war-horse. 

"  Because  he  has  not  clipped  you  round  the 
waist,  pinched  you  in  the  cheek,  kissed  you  on 
the  lips — such  liberties  as  our  rufBers  use.  But 
he  is  a  man  for  my  money." 

She  spoke  with  vehemence.  Pretty  Tiffany 
made  a  dainty  grimace  as  she  answered : 

"  I  think  I  am  pleasing  enough  to  behold,  yet 
he  gave  me  no  more  than  a  glance  when  he  gave 
me  good-day." 

Mistress  Satchell' s  ample  bulk  swayed  with 
indignation. 

41  He  is  a  lad  of  taste,  I  tell  you.  Why 
should  he  waste  his  gaze  on  such  small  goods 
when  there  was  nobler  ware  anigh  ?  He  smiled 
all  over  his  face  when  he  greeted  me." 

Tiffany  was  sorely  tempted  to  smile  all  over 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

her  face  as  she  listened,  but  Mistress  Satchell's 
temper  was  short  and  her  arm  long,  so  she  kept 
her  countenance  as  she  answered,  shortly: 

"He  is  little." 

This  Mistress  Satchell  swiftly  countered  with 
the  affirmation: 

"He  is  great." 

Tiffany  thrust  again. 

"He  is  naught."" 

Again  Dame  Satchell  parried. 

"He  is  much,"  she  screamed,  and  her  face 
was  poppy-red  with  passion,  but  Tiffany,  re- 
treating warily  and  persistent  to  tease,  was 
about  to  start  some  fresh  disclaimer  of  the  Puri- 
tan's merits  when  she  caught  sight  through  a 
yew  arch  vista  of  a  gown  of  gold  and  gray,  and 
her  tongue  faltered. 

"  Our  lady,"  she  whispered  to  Mistress  Satch- 
ell, who  had  barely  time  to  compose  her  ruffled 
countenance  when  Brilliana  came  through  the 
yew  arch  and  paused  on  the  edge  of  the  pleas- 
aunce  surveying  the  belligerents  with  an  amused 
smile. 

"What  are  you  two  brawling  about?"  she 
asked,  as  she  moved  slowly  towards  the  marble 
seat.  Tiffany  thrust  in  the  first  word. 

"Goody  Satchell  will  vex  me  with  praise  of 
the  Parliament  man." 

140 


A   PURITAN    APPRAISED 

By  this  time  Brilliana  had  seated  herself, 
observing  her  vehement  shes  with  amusement. 
She  turned  a  face  of  assumed  gravity  upon  the 
elder. 

"So,  so,  Mistress  Satchell,  have  you  turned 
Roundhead  all  of  a  sudden?" 

Mrs.  Satchell  shook  her  head  at  Brilliana  and 
her  fist  at  Tiffany. 

"  Tiffany  is  a  minx,  but  I  am  an  honest  wom- 
an; and  as  I  am  an  honest  woman,  there  are 
honest  qualities  in  this  honest  Puritan." 

Brilliana  knew  as  much  herself  and  fretted  at 
the  knowledge.  It  cut  against  the  grain  of  her 
heart  to  admit  that  a  rebel  could  have  any  re- 
demption by  gifts.  But  she  still  questioned 
Mistress  Satchell  smoothly,  thinking  the  while 
of  a  man  intrenched  behind  a  table,  one  man 
against  six. 

"What  are  these  marvels?"  she  asked. 

Mistress  Satchell  was  voluble  of  collected  en- 
comiums. 

"Why,  Thomas  Coachman  swears  he  is  a 
master  of  horse-manage,  and  he  has  taught  Luke 
Gardener  a  new  method  of  grafting  roses,  and 
Simon  Warrener  swears  he  knows  as  much 
of  hawking  as  any  man  in  Oxford  or  War- 
wick." 

She  paused,  out  of  breath.  Brilliana,  leaning 

141 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

forward  with  an  air  of  infinite  gravity,  comment- 
ed: 

"  It  were  more  to  your  point,  surely,  if  the 
gentleman  had  skill  in  cook-craft." 

Mistress  Satchell  was  not  to  be  outdone; 
she  clapped  her  hands  together  noisily  and 
shrilled  her  triumph. 

"There,  too,  he  meets  you.  After  breakfast 
this  morning,  when  I  asked  him  how  he  fared, 
he  overpraised  my  table,  and  he  gave  me  a 
recipe  for  grilling  capons  in  the  Spanish  manner 
— well,  you  shall  know,  if  you  do  but  live  long 
enough." 

The  ruddy  dame  nodded  significantly  as  she 
closed  thus  cryptically  her  tables  of  praises. 
Brilliana  uplifted  her  hands  in  a  pretty  air  of 
wonder. 

"The  phoenix,"  she  sighed,  "the  paragon, 
the  nonpareil  of  the  buttery."  Instantly  her 
smiling  face  grew  grave. 

"  Well,  it  is  not  for  us  to  praise  him  or  blame 
him  while  he  is  on  our  hands.  See  that  you 
give  him  good  meals,  Mistress  Satchell." 

Dame  Satchell  stared  at  her  mistress  in  some 
amazement. 

"Will  he  not  dine  in  hall,  my  lady?" 

Brilliana  frowned  now  in  good  earnest. 

"Lordamercy!  do  you  think  I  would  sit  at 
142 


meat  with  a  rebel  ?  Have  I  not  set  him  a  room 
apart,  to  spare  myself  the  sight  of  him?  Serve 
him  in  his  own  rooms,  but  look  you  serve  him 
well." 

Dame  Satchell  wagged  her  head  with  an  air 
of  the  deepest  significance. 

"I  warrant  you,"  she  muttered,  "he  com- 
mended my  soused  cucumbers." 

And  so  nodding  and  chuckling  she  moved 
like  a  great  galleon  over  the  green,  and  soon 
was  out  of  sight.  The  moment  her  broad  back 
was  well  turned,  Tiffany  permitted  herself  to 
utter  the  protests  which  had  been  boiling  within 
her. 

"  To  listen  to  Dame  Satchell,  one  would  think 
that  no  man  had  ever  seen  a  horse  or  known 
one  dish  from  another  before  this." 

Brilliana  gave  her  handmaid  a  glance  of 
something  near  akin  to  displeasure. 

"  I  think  you  all  talk  and  think  too  much  of 
the  gentleman.  I  see  little  to  praise  in  him  save 
a  certain  coolness  in  peril.  Let  us  have  no 
more  of  him.  We  must  use  him  well,  but  he 
will  soon  be  gone,  and  a  good  riddance.  Is  my 
lute  tuned,  Tiffany?" 

Tiffany  answered  "Ay,"  and  her  lady  took 
up  the  lute  and  picked  at  a  tune,  yawning. 
The  world  seemed  to  have  grown  very  tedious 


all  of  a  sudden,  and  it  did  not  seem  so  pleasant 
as  she  deemed  it  would  prove  to  sit  again  in  the 
yew  circle  and  sing.  She  began  a  song  or  two, 
to  leave  each  unfinished  with  a  yawn,  and,  be- 
cause yawning  is  contagious,  Tiffany  yawned 
too,  discreetly  behind  her  fingers.  It  was  while 
Tiffany  looked  away  to  conceal  a  vaster  yawn 
than  its  fellows,  too  vast  for  masking  with  fin- 
ger-tips, that  she  saw  a  soldierly  figure  coming 
across  the  garden  towards  the  pleasaunce. 

"My  lady,"  she  cried,  turning  to  Brilliana, 
"  here  comes  Captain  Half  man.  Let  us  ask 
him  his  mind  as  to  the  Parliament  man." 

Brilliana' s  face  brightened.  Here  was  com- 
pany, and  good  company.  She  had  believed  him 
too  busy  to  be  seen  so  soon,  for  she  had  bade 
him  see  about  raising  a  troop  of  volunteers  in  the 
village,  and  she  turned  round  readily  to  greet 
her  companion  of  the  siege. 

Through  the  yew  portal  Halfman  came, 
gravity  reigning  in  his  eyes  and  slaking  their 
wild  fire.  He  saluted  Brilliana  with  the  deep 
reverence  he  always  showed  to  his  fair  general. 
Brilliana  turned  to  her  adjutant  eagerly: 

''Master  Halfman,  Master  Halfman,"  she 
cried,  "how  do  you  measure  our  rebel?" 

Half  man's  gravity  lightened  amazingly  at 
the  thought  of  his  prisoner. 

144 


A    PURITAN    APPRAISED 

"I  take  him,"  he  answered,  emphatically, 
"  for  as  proper  a  fellow  as  ever  I  met  in  all  my 
vagabond  days.  Barring  his  primness  he  would 
have  proved  a  gallant ' '  —he  was  going  to  say 
"pirate,"  but  paused  in  time  and  said  "sea- 
man." "God  pardon  him  for  a  Puritan,"  he 
went  on,  "for  he  has  in  him  the  making  of  a 
rare  Cavalier." 

Brilliana  turned  to  Tiffany,  whose  cheeks  were 
very  red. 

"  Hang  your  head,  child,"  she  cried;  "for  you 
are  outvoted  in  a  parliament  of  praise.  Beat 
a  retreat,  maid  Tiffany." 

The  crimson  Tiffany  fled  from  the  pleasaunce. 

"Where  is  your  prisoner?"  Brilliana  asked. 

"  I  have  envoyed  him  over  park  and  garden," 
Half  man  answered,  "and  brought  him  to  port 
in  the  library." 

"Alas!  I  pity  him,"  sighed  Brilliana;  "it 
holds  few  books  of  divinity.  But  come,  re- 
cruiting-sergeant, what  of  our  volunteers?" 

"So  pleases  you,  my  lady,"  Halfman  said, 
"  our  troop  is  swelling  fast,  and  the  sooner  we 
clap  them  into  colored  coats  the  better." 

Brilliana' s  curls  danced  in  denial. 

"Alas!  friend,  I  have  sad  news  for  you.  Of 
cloth  for  coats  I  can  indeed  command  a  great 
plenty"  —she  paused  doubtfully. 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"  Why  this  is  glad  news,  not  sad  news,"  Half- 
man  said.  "  So  may  you  serve  it  out  with  all 
despatch." 

Brilliana  dropped  her  hands  to  her  sides  and 
her  lids  over  her  eyes,  a  pretty  picture  of 
despair;  but,  "Alas!  'tis  all  white,"  she  con- 
fessed—"wool  white,  snow  white,  ermine  white. 
You  must  needs  have  patience,  good  recruit- 
ing-sergeant, till  I  can  have  it  dyed  the  royal 
red." 

Halfman  pushed  patience  from  him  with 
outspread  palms. 

"  Shall  the  King  lack  hands  for  lack  of  mad- 
der ?"  he  questioned,  with  humorous  indignation. 
"  Not  so,  I  pray  you;  let  us  cut  our  coats  from 
your  white  cloth.  I  promise  you  we  will  dye 
it  ourselves  red  enough  in  the  blood  of  the  en- 
emy." Brilliana  sprang  to  her  feet  rejoicing. 

"Bravely  said;  so  shall  it  be  bravely  done. 
I  will  give  orders  at  once  for  the  cutting  and 
sewing.  I  will  back  our  white  coats  against 
Master  Hampden's  green  coats,  or  Essex's 
swarm  in  orange-tawny.  Have  you  conveyed 
my  message  to  my  two  miserly  neighbors?" 

"I  sent  Clupp  to  Master  Hungerford,"  Half- 
man answered,  "  and  Garlinge  to  Master  Rain- 
ham,  bidding  them  to  your  presence  peremptory. 
But  I  warn  you,  my  lady,  from  all  I  hear,  that 

146 


A    PURITAN    APPRAISED 

if  you  hope  to  raise  coin  for  the  King's  cause 
from  either  of  the  skinflints  you  will  be  sadly  at 
a  loss." 

"At  least  I  must  try,"  Brilliana  declared. 
"Am  I  not  the  King's  viceroy  in  Oxfordshire, 
and  are  not  the  two  moneybags  my  proclaimed 
adorers  ?  It  will  go  hard  with  me  but  I  compel 
them  to  swell  the  King's  exchequer." 

'You  have  done  marvels,"  Halfman  ad- 
mitted. "  Can  you  work  miracles  ?  With  all 
due  reverence,  I  doubt.  But  we  shall  soon  see, 
for  here  comes  Tiffany  tiptoe  through  the 
trees.  I'll  wager  it  is  to  herald  one  of  the 
vultures." 

As  he  spoke,  Tiffany  tripped  in  pink  and 
grinning. 

"My  lady,"  said  she,  "Master  Paul  Hunger- 
ford  has  ridden  in  and  seeks  audience." 

Brilliana  clapped  her  hands. 

"Go,  bring  him  in,  Tiffany;  and,  Tiffany 
child,  if  Master  Peter  Rainham  comes,  as  I 
shrewdly  expect,  keep  him  apart,  on  your  life, 
till  I  know  of  his  coming." 

Tiffany  vanished.  Brilliana  turned  to  Half- 
man. 

"  Stay  with  me,  captain,  and  aid  me  to  trap 
these  badgers." 

Halfman  smiled  delight.  "  I  will  help  you 

147 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

extempore,"  he  promised.     "I  will  eke  out  my 
part  with  impromptus." 

He  stood  a  little  apart,  grim  mirth  in  his  eyes, 
as  Tiffany  ushered  into  the  circle  a  lean,  shabby 
country  -  gentleman,  whose  habit  would  have 
shamed  a  scarecrow.  Tiffany  disappeared  and 
the  new-comer  made  Brilliana  an  awkward  bow. 
"  Sweet  lady,  you  sent  for  me  and  I  come,  love, 
quickly." 


XVII 

SET  A  KNAVE  TO  CATCH  A  KNAVE 

BRILLIANA  had  much  ado  to  keep  from  laugh- 
ing in  the  face  of  the  uncouth  genuflector,  hut 
she  kept  a  grave  face  and  uttered  grave  com- 
plaint. 

"  Master  Hungerford!  Master  Hungerford! 
They  tell  me  sad  tales  of  you.  Though  you  are 
as  wealthy  as  wealthy  you  will  not  mend  the 
King's  exchequer." 

Master  Paul  gave  vent  to  such  a  wail  as  a 
dog  makes  when  one  treads  unaware  upon  his 
tail,  and  clapped  his  hands  about  piteously. 

"  I  wealthy!  Forgive  you,  lady,  for  listening 
to  such  tales.  I  am  not  so  graced.  I  am 
little  bigger  than  a  beggar." 

Brilliana  wagged  her  curls. 

"Why,  now,  Master  Hungerford,  you  have 
a  great  estate." 

Master  Hungerford's  whine  rose  higher,  and 
he  paddled  at  the  air  as  if  he  sought  to  come  to 
some  surface  and  breathe  free. 

"  Great  land,  lady — great  land,  if  you  will,  but 

149 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

little  cash.  My  land  holds  every  penny  I  get 
together.  Why,  'tis  well  known  in  the  country 
that  I  buy  land  for  a  thousand  pound  every 
year,  wherefore  I  can  never  boast  more  than  a 
guinea  in  ready  money." 

Brilliana  frowned  on  the  floundering  squire. 

'This  is  a  sad  business,  Master  Hungerford, 
for  the  King  is  in  need  and  will  oblige  hereafter 
those  that  oblige  him  now.  His  Majesty  has 
made  me  a  kind  of  viceroy  here  in  Oxford.  I 
begin  to  think  that  you  incline  to  the  Parlia- 
ment, Master  Paul.  If  I  thought  that,  I  would 
hold  you  a  traitor  and  make  perquisitions  at 
your  place." 

Master  Hungerford  groaned  dismally: 

"Lordamercy!"  he  moaned.  "I  am  the  loy- 
alest  knight  in  England.  Nay,  now,  if  you 
talk  of  perquisitions  there  is  my  neighbor  Peter 
Rainham.  I  know  him  for  a  skinflint  who 
will  deny  the  King.  Yet  I  know  of  a  chest  of 
his  that  is  stuffed  with  gold  pieces.  Were  he 
a  true  man  he  would  shift  his  treasure  into  the 
King's  sack,  as  I  would  if  I  had  such  a  store." 

A  fantastic  possibility  danced  into  Brilliana's 
brain.  She  glanced  to  where  Half  man  stood 
moodily  ruminating  on  the  method  he  would 
employ  to  loosen  Master  Hungerford 's  purse- 
strings  if  he  had  him  at  his  mercy  in  a  taken 

150 


SET  A  KNAVE  TO  CATCH  A  KNAVE 

town.  Brilliana  could  not  read  his  thoughts, 
which  was  as  well,  but  she  gave  him.  a  glance 
which  stirred  him  to  alertness  as  she  resumed 
her  interrogatory  of  her  niggardly  neighbor. 

"  Why,  then,  Master  Hungerford,  if  he  be  as 
you  say,  he  is  little  better,  if  better  at  all,  than 
a  Parliament  man,  and,  therefore,  our  common 
enemy." 

Master  Paul  rubbed  his  lean  hands  in  de- 
light. 

"It  is  indeed  as  you  say,"  he  affirmed,  with 
a  sour  smile  that  sat  very  vilely  on  his  yellow 
face.  Brilliana  leaned  forward,  and,  governing 
his  shifty  eyes,  spoke  very  impressively. 

"  Now  meseems  you  might  win  great  credit 
in  the  King's  eyes,  at  no  cost  to  yourself,  if 
you  were  to  lay  hands  on  this  treasure  in  the 
King's  name." 

Master  Paul's  alarm  asserted  itself  in  a  shriek. 

"  Lordamercy,  lady,  what  of  the  law  of  the 
land?  Would  you  have  me  turn  footpad, 
house-breaker?" 

His  jaws  shook,  his  joints  twitched,  he  was 
abject  in  alarm.  Springing  to  her  feet,  Brilliana 
spoke  impatiently. 

"  A  Parliament  man  is  outside  the  King's  law; 
his  goods  are  forfeit,  and  to  confiscate  them  as 
legal  as  loyal.  I  thought  you  might  choose 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

to  serve  the  King  and  please  me."  This  last 
was  said  with  an  accent  of  disdain  which  made 
the  unhappy  squire  shiver.  '  I  was  in  error,  so 
no  more  words  of  it.  Good-day  to  you." 

And  my  Lady  Brilliana  made  Master  Paul  a 
courtesy  so  contemptuous  and  a  gesture  of  dis- 
missal so  decisive  that  Master  Hungerford's 
terror  deepened.  If  the  King's  cause  were  to 
go  well,  if  the  lady  indeed  had  favor  with  his 
Majesty,  to  offend  her  would  be  verily  a  piece 
of  mortal  folly.  He  came  nigh  to  falling  on  his 
knees  as  he  pleaded. 

"Nay,  nay,  never  so  hot,  now;  I  am  your 
suitor,  in  faith,  I  am  your  very  good  servant. 
I  would  serve  your  will  in  this  if  I  could  but 
march  with  the  law." 

Brilliana  jumped  at  his  concession.  She  saw 
Tiffany  in  the  distance  crossing  the  garden 
towards  her  and  guessed  that  she  came  to 
announce  the  arrival  of  the  other  miser ;  so  she 
was  eager  to  clinch  the  business  with  Master 
Hungerford. 

"  Why,  so  you  ever  shall,  with  the  King's  law. 
What  more  easy  ?  I  represent  the  King  in  this 
district;  this  fellow  is  a  suspected  rebel;  I  give 
you  leave  to  search  his  house  for  arms." 

Master  Paul  pricked  his  ears.  "Ah,  so,  for 
arms,  you  say?" 

152 


SET  A  KNAVE  TO  CATCH  A  KNAVE 

Tiffany  paused  in  the  archway  and  jerked 
her  thumb  over  her  shoulder  in  the  direction  of 
the  house.  Brilliana  shrugged  her  shoulders, 
impatient  of  Master  Paul's  denseness. 

"  If  you  find  gold  in  your  search  for  steel,  so 
much  the  better.  Come,  come,  this  is  your  happy 
time,  for  I  am  told  Master  Rainham  is  abroad." 

She  gave  a  glance  for  confirmation  at  Half- 
man,  who  lounged  forward. 

"That  he  is,"  he  asserted,  briskly.  "He  has 
gone  a-marketing." 

"Then  to  it  at  once!"  Brilliana  cried,  eying 
the  waver er  encouragingly.  "  Take  such  of  my 
people  as  you  will.  You  will  find  some  at 
the  stables  yonder,"  and  as  she  spoke  she  point- 
ed in  the  direction  opposite  to  the  house. 
"  Master  Rainham 's  miserliness  keeps  but  a 
small  retinue.  You  will  meet  with  no  resist- 
ance. Go  forth,  my  knight." 

Master  Paul  almost  skipped  with  delight  and 
he  cracked  his  fingers  vigorously.  He  seemed 
even  less  pleasing  merry  than  terrified. 

;<  You  call  me  your  knight."  He  turned  and 
took  Half  man  to  witness.  "She  calls  me  her 
knight.  I'll  do  it.  I'll  do  it,"  he  voiced,  ex- 
ult ingly. 

Brilliana,  with  strenuous  self-restraint,  seemed 
to  applaud  his  antics. 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"  Bravely  said,  Chivalry!"  she  cried.  "  Let  it 
be  done,  and  well  done,  ere  dusk." 

Master  Paul  quavered  before  her  in  an  ec- 
stasy of  delighted  obedience. 

"I  fly,  enchantress  —  I  fly!"  he  chirruped. 
Then,  as  he  turned  to  go,  another  thought 
struck  him,  and  he  entreated,  grotesquely  lan- 
guishing, "Prithee,  your  hand  to  kiss  first." 

Brilliana  denied  him  affably. 

"  By  -  and  -  by,  maybe,  as  the  prize  of  your 
triumph .  Farewell . ' ' 

After  sundry  strange  scrapings,  Master  Hun- 
gerford  took  his  departure  in  the  direction  of 
the  stables.  As  soon  as  his  back  was  turned, 
Brilliana  questioned  her  maid. 

"Well,  Tiffany,  is  it  Master  Rainham?" 

"Ay,  my  lady,"  Tiffany  answered,  demurely. 
She  knew  there  was  some  manner  of  mystifica- 
tion forward  and  yearned  for  the  key  to  it. 
"He  chafes  in  the  music- chamber." 

"Send  him  here  top-speed,"  Brilliana  com- 
manded. With  a  whisk  of  flying  skirts  Tiffany 
scuttered  back  to  the  house,  and  Brilliana  turned 
to  Half  man,  the  laughter  in  her  eyes  seeking  and 
finding  the  laughter  in  his. 

"Well,"  she  said,  "our  angling  prospers 
blithely.  We  have  tickled  one  fish.  Now  for 
the  other  chub." 


SET    A    KNAVE    TO    CATCH    A    KNAVE 

Half  man,  who  had  been  swaying  with  silent 
merriment  ever  since  the  departure  of  Master 
Paul,  suddenly  grew  steady  again  and  looked 
warnings. 

"He  asks  for  another  kind  of  angling,  as  I 
gather,"  he  suggested.  Brilliana  looked  dain- 
tily wise. 

"  As  I  bait  the  hook  I  believe  I  will  land  him. 
It  will  be  rare  if  I  can  make  Paul  rob  Peter 
while  Peter  plunders  Paul.  How  dare  they  be 
so  close-fisted  while  the  King's  flag  is  flying  and 
England's  honor  in  peril!" 

If  she  said  this  with  any  idea  of  palliating  the 
possible  lawlessness  of  her  action  in  the  eyes  of 
her  companion,  she  wasted  her  words.  Half- 
man  had  not  been  so  happy  since  his  return  to 
England,  not  even  in  the  briskest  days  of  the 
siege,  as  he  was  now  in  the  staging  of  this  law- 
less comedy.  The  old  pirate  jigged  in  him  at 
this  fair  maid's  strategy. 

"By  St.  Nicholas,"  he  swore,  "they  should 
be  bled  white  for  a  brace  of  knaves!  This,  I 
take  it,  is  your  other  honor-bankrupt  atomy." 


IT  was  indeed  Master  Peter  Rainham  whom 
Tiffany  now  brought  into  the  presence  of  her 
mistress,  and  left  there  standing  and  staring. 
Master  Peter,  eyed  and  appraised  by  the  search- 
ing scrutiny  of  Halfman,  resolved  himself  into 
a  thick-set,  boorish  fellow,  whose  flying  fore- 
head, little,  angry  eyes,  and  assertive,  yellow 
teeth  made  him,  to  Halfman's  mind,  resemble 
nothing  in  the  world  so  much  as  a  boar's  head 
on  an  ale-house  sign.  Yet  the  fellow  stood  his 
ground  sturdily  enough,  and  stared  at  Brilliana 
with  no  sense  of  distress  at  his  dirty  homespun 
or  his  dirty  hands. 

"You  sent  for  me?"  he  challenged.  "Have 
you  changed  your  mood?  I  am  ever  of  the 
same  mind,  and  will  wed  when  you  will." 

The  wolf  look  leaped  into  Halfman's  eyes,  and 
the  loutish  squire's  life  was,  all  unawares,  in  the 
greatest  peril  it  had  ever  fringed.  But  Brilliana, 
intent  only  on  her  purposes,  beamed  on  her  blunt 
suitor  as  if  he  had  scattered  flowers  at  her  feet. 

156 


SERVING   THE    KING 

"You  are  a  wonderful  wooer,"  she  protest- 
ed. "  But  whatever  admiration  of  your  person 
I  may,  without  unbecoming  effrontery,  confess, 
I  would  have  you  to  know,  plain  and  square, 
from  this  moment,  that  I  will  hearken  to  none 
but  a  King's  man." 

The  boor's  little  eyes  glinted  and  the  boor's 
rusty  fingers  rasped  at  his  stubble  chin  as  he 
answered  emphatically: 

"Then  I  am  a  King's  man,  root  and  branch." 

But  his  face  showed  less  loyal  confidence  at 
Brilliana's  next  words. 

"Then  you  must  know  his  Majesty  is  in 
straits  for  ready  money.  Will  you,  who  are 
reputed  rich,  come  to  his  aid  with  a  round 
sum?" 

Master  Peter  showed  his  teeth  in  a  snarl  and 
flung  up  his  hands. 

"  Reputed  rich!  Oh,  what  a  bitter  thing  is  a 
bad  reputation.  I  am  Job-poor;  both  ends  will 
not  meet,  I  tell  you.  If  I  had  for  lending- 
money  a  guinea  in  one  pocket,  why,  I  should 
lend  it  to  the  other  pocket." 

"Why  do  you  woo  me  if  you  be  so  poor?" 
Brilliana  asked,  with  a  fine  show  of  heat,  and 
Halfman  nodded  his  head  as  much  as  to  say, 
"Ay,  ay,  answer  me  that,  if  you  can." 

Master  Peter  strove  to  answer,  lamely  enough. 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY   HOUSE 

"  Poor  in  pennies,  lady,  poorer  in  shillings, 
poorest  in  guineas.  I  may  own  half  the  coun- 
try-side and  have  no  coin  to  clink  against  the 
other." 

Brilliana  scoffed  at  his  protest. 

"  Why,  'tis  not  so  long  ago  Master  Paul  Hun- 
gerford  told  me  you  were  a  very  Crcesus." 

Master  Peter  clinched  and  unclinched  his 
horny  hands  as  if  he  were  coming  to  grips  with 
his  traducer. 

"  Master  Hungerford  told  you  that  ?  I  would 
I  had  my  hands  knotted  about  his  lying  throat. 
He  that  is  as  rich  as  a  Jew,  that  has  a  treasure 
of  gold  plate  in  his  sideboard  that  would  keep 
the  King  in  arms  and  men  for  a  month  of  Sun- 
days, he  so  to  slander  my  poverty." 

Brilliana  heaved  a  sympathetic  sigh. 

"  I  fear  he  is  but  a  bad  man.  Do  you  think 
he  cherishes  the  King's  cause?" 

Master  Peter  flamed  with  virtuous  indigna- 
tion. 

"He,  the  black  heart!  Never  think  it.  He 
is  a  rank  Parliament  scoundrel  and  worships 
Mr.  Pym." 

"  Is  it  so  ?"  cried  Brilliana.  "  A  rebel,  a  rene- 
gade. Why,  now,  Master  Rainham,  I  see  a 
pretty  piece  of  loyal  work  for  you." 

Master  Peter  glowered  at  her  suspiciously. 
158 


SERVING   THE    KING 

"  Anything  for  you,  anything  for  the  King; 
except  give  what  I  have  none  of — money." 

"In  the  King's  name,"  said  Brilliana,  hero- 
ically, "  go  forth  and  ransack  this  rebellious  gen- 
tleman's house  for  arms." 

Master  Peter  snorted  sceptically. 

"Arms!  I  think  he  hath  none  but  an  old 
rusty  fire-lock  and  a  breast  and  back  that  have 
seen  better  days." 

Brilliana  beamed  on  him,  a  yielding  sphinx. 

"  But  then,  supposing  you  should  pick  up 
some  plate  on  the  way,  some  gold  plate  by 
chance — ' 

Master  Peter  rubbed  his  grimy  hands. 

"Why,  it  were  fine,"  he  admitted,  gleefully; 
then  added,  with  cunning,  "Are  you  sure  he  is 
a  Roundhead?" 

"  I  am  very  sure  he  is  your  enemy,"  Brilliana 
answered,  sharply,  "for  he  makes  you  his  daily 
jape." 

The  ugly  boar-head  looked  uglier  as  it  growled : 

"  Does  he,  the  dog!  I'd  jape  him  if  I  gad  my 
two  hands  upon  him." 

"Why,"  Brilliana  asserted,  now  in  the  full 
tide  of  make  -  believe,  "  if  you  are  a  King's 
man,  he  will  be  of  the  other  side,  he  hates  you 
so.  I  cannot  think  how  you  have  earned  his 
hatred,  unless,  indeed—  "  and  she  broke  off  sud- 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

denly  and  looked  aside.  Half  man  would  have 
given  a  shilling  for  a  lonely  place  to  laugh  his 
fill  in. 

"Well,  madam,  well?"  Master  Rainham  ques- 
tioned, eagerly. 

Brilliana  faltered  her  answer. 

' '  — unless  he  believes  you  stand  higher  in  the 
graces  of  a  certain  lady  than  he  can  ever  hope 
to  stand." 

Master  Rainham 's  smile  gave  Half  man  the 
feel  of  goose-flesh.  Brilliana's  f%ce  was,  happily, 
averted. 

"Madam,  assure  me  'tis  so,"  grunted  boar's- 
head. 

"I  must  not  say  much,"  Brilliana  protested, 
"no  more  than  this,  that  in  this  enterprise,  if 
you  but  achieve  it,  you  will  win  great  credit 
with  the  King  at  no  cost  to  yourself,  you  spoil 
a  rival,  and  —  but  this  is  very  private  —  you 
will  give  great  pleasure  to  that  same  nameless 
lady." 

Master  Peter  shouted,  "  Why,  then,  all's  well. 
I  will  pick  him  as  clean  as  a  whistle."  Again 
caution  overcrowded  cheer.  "  But  I  must  pick 
my  time,  look  you." 

On  this,  Brilliana  became  emphatic. 

"  No  time  like  the  present.  It  is  to  my  cer- 
tain knowledge  that  Master  Paul  is  away  from 

160 


SERVING   THE    KING 

home  to-day."  Again  she  looked  to  Half  man 
for*  support,  and  again  Halfman  yielded  it 
blithely. 

"  Ay,  he  has  gone  hawking,"  he  declared;  "  he 
will  not  be  home  this  great  while." 

Halfman's  confirmation  decided  Master  Peter. 

"  Why,  I  go  at  once.  When  the  cat's  away — ! 
I  will  be  back  within  the  hour." 

'Then,"  said  Brilliana,  "pray  you  go  to  the 
house  and  gather  in  my  name  from  the  servants' 
hall  such  men  as  you  may  need  for  your  enter- 
prise. Use  despatch,  for  indeed  I  long  for  your 
return." 

Master  Peter  paid  her  what  he  believed  to  be 
a  courtly  bow. 

"That  same  nameless  lady  shall  praise  me," 
he  chuckled,  and,  turning,  made  for  the  house 
with  all  speed.  When  they  were  alone,  Brilli- 
ana and  Halfman  looked  at  each  other  with  the 
mirth  of  children  who  have  successfully  raided 
an  orchard. 

"I  have  netted  them,"  Brilliana  said.  "If 
it  do  but  happen  pat,  we  shall  have  served  the 
King  and  punished  two  cozening  faint-hearts. 
For  the  best  of  it  is  that  neither  can  complain. 
Each  is  neck-high  in  the  mire  of  lies,  each  has 
plundered  the  other,  and  must  be  dumb  for 
shame  of  his  knavery." 

161 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"It  will  be  brave  to  spy  their  faces,"  Half- 
man  commented,  "when  they  smell  out  the 
snare." 

"Look  to  it,"  Brilliana  suggested,  "that 
they  be  kept  apart  when  they  come  here. 
The  jest  must  not  spoil.  How  these  old 
hawks  will  fly  at  each  other  when  we  unhood 
them." 

''' Trust  me,  lady,"  said  Halfman.  "I  have 
been  a  play-actor  and  know  how  to  stage  a  pair 
of  gabies  to  the  show." 

He  saluted  her  and  made  to  depart.  She 
had  learned  to  like  his  company  through  the 
long  days  of  siege,  and  this  dull  day  of  quiet 
she  felt  lonely.  Moreover,  she  was  grateful  to 
him  for  having  helped  her  so  well  in  her  plot 
against  the  niggards. 

"  Come  again  when  you  have  taken  order  for 
this,"  she  said.  "There  is  still  much  to  do, 
much  to  think  for." 

The  man  saluted  anew,  intoxicated  with 
pleasure.  He  knew  that  she  liked  his  company, 
and  whatever  was  well  in  him  burgeoned  at  the 
knowledge.  His  play-actor  passion  had  bet- 
tered him,  if  it  had  not  accomplished  the  im- 
possible and  transmuted  the  pirate  of  body 
into  the  pure  of  soul.  It  would  not  be  true  to 
say  that  he  never  thought  lewdly  of  her;  he 

162 


SERVING    THE    KING 

would  have  thought  lewdly  of  an  angel  or  a  ves- 
tal maid;  that  was  ingrain  in  the  composition 
of  the  man ;  but  he  thought  well  of  her  as  he  had 
never  thought  well  of  women  before  since  he 
first  scorched  his  stripling's  fingers,  and  he  would 
have  killed  twenty  men  to  keep  her  from  hear- 
ing a  foul  word.  Sometimes  when  he  talked 
with  her,  ever  in  his  chastened  part  of  the 
rough  old  soldier,  he  laughed  in  his  sleeve  at 
the  difference  between  part  and  true  man. 
The  nut-hook  humor  of  it  was  that  both  were 
realities,  or,  perhaps,  that  neither  were  real- 
ities. 

As  he  quitted  the  pleasaunce  he  countered 
Mistress  Tiffany,  and  saw  at  a  distance,  stand- 
ing by  the  laurels,  a  foppish,  many  -  colored, 
portly  personage  negligently  twirling  a  long 
staff.  Half  man  guessed  the  name,  grinned,  and 
went  on  his  business.  Tiffany  burst  wellnigh 
breathless  into  her  lady's  presence. 

"My  lady,"  she  gasped,  "here  is  Sir  Blaise 
Mickleton,  who  entreats  the  honor  to  speak  with 
you." 

Brilliana's  face  darkened  for  a  moment,  for 
she  bore  no  kindness  just  then  to  the  laggard  in 
war.  Then  her  face  cleared  again. 

"Admit  him,"  she  said.  " He  will  divert  me 
for  want  of  a  better." 

163 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

Back  ran  Tiffany  to  where  the  visitor  lin- 
gered, bade  him  enter  the  pleasaunce,  where 
he  would  find  her  mistress,  and  having  deliv- 
ered her  errand,  ran  again  to  the  house,  leav- 
ing him  to  his  adventure. 


XIX 
SIR    BLAISE   PAYS   HIS    RESPECTS 

SIR  BLAISE  MICKLETON  was,  in  his  own  eyes 
and  in  the  eyes  of  the  village  girls  of  Harby,  a 
vastly  fine  gentleman.  If  they  had  ever  heard 
of  the  sun-god,  Phoebus  Apollo  would  have  pre- 
sented himself  to  their  rusticity  in  some  such 
guise  as  the  personality  of  the  local  knight. 
Sir  Blaise  had  been  to  London  —  once  —  had 
kissed  the  King's  hand  at  Whitehall,  and  had 
ever  since  striven  vehemently  to  be  more  Lon- 
donish  than  the  Londoner.  He  talked  with 
what  he  thought  to  be  the  town's  drawl;  he 
walked,  as  he  believed,  with  the  town  walk 
over  the  grasses  of  his  grounds  and  on  the  Harby 
high-roads.  He  plagued  the  village  tailor  with 
strange  devices  for  coats  and  cloaks;  many- 
colored  as  a  Joseph,  he  strutted  through  bucolic 
surroundings  as  if  he  carried  the  top-knot  of  the 
mode  in  the  Mall;  he  glittered  in  ribbons  and 
trinkets,  floundered  rather  than  swam  in  a  sea 
of  essences,  yet  scarcely  succeeded  in  amending, 
with  all  this  false  foppishness,  the  something 

'65 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

bumpkin  that  was  at  the  root  of  his  nature.  He 
was  of  a  lusty  natural  with  the  sanguine  dispo- 
sition, and  held  himself  as  much  above  the  most 
of  his  neighbors  as  he  knew  himself  to  be  below 
the  house  of  Harby.  He  was  no  double-face, 
friendly  with  both  sides ;  he  was  rather  for  peep- 
ing from  behind  the  parted  doors  of  the  temple 
of  peace  upon  a  warring  world  without,  and  mak- 
ing fast  friends  with  the  victor.  He  had  very 
little  doubt  that  the  victor  would  be  the  King, 
but  just  enough  doubt  to  permit  his  surrender 
to  a  distemper  that  kept  him  to  his  bed  till  Edge- 
hill  proved  the  amazing  remedy. 

Sir  Blaise  peacocked  over  the  lawn,  delicate 
as  Agag.  He  murdered  the  morning  air  with 
odors,  his  raiment  outglowed  the  rainbow;  one 
hand  dandled  his  staff,  the  other  caressed  his 
mustaches.  He  strove  to  smile  adoration  on 
Brilliana,  but  mistrust  marred  his  ogle,  and  a 
shiver  of  fear  betrayed  his  simper  of  confidence. 
Brilliana  watched  him  gravely  with  never  a 
word  or  a  sign,  and  her  silence-  intensified  his 
discomfiture  by  the  square  of  the  distance  he 
had  yet  to  traverse. 

"Coxcomb,"  she  thought,  and  "coward,"  she 
thought,  and  "cur,"  she  thought. 

He  could  not  read  her  thought,  but  he  could 
read  her  tightened  lips  and  her  hostile  eyes,  and 

166 


SIR   BLAISE    PAYS   HIS   RESPECTS 

he  wished  himself  again  in  bed  at  Mickleton. 
But  it  was  too  late  to  retreat,  and  he  advanced 
in  bad  order  under  the  silent  fire  of  her  disdain 
till  he  paused  at  what  he  deemed  to  be  the 
proper  place  for  ceremonious  salutation.  He 
uncovered,  describing  so  magnificent  a  sweep 
of  extended  hat  that  its  plumes  brushed  the 
grasses  at  her  feet.  He  bowed  so  low  that  his 
pink  face  disappeared  from  view  in  the  forward 
fall  of  his  lovelocks.  When  the  rising  inflec- 
tion shook  these  back  and  the  pink  face  again 
confronted  her,  he  seemed  to  have  recovered 
some  measure  of  assertion. 

"  Lady,"  he  said,  sighingly,  "  I  kiss  your  mel- 
lifluous fingers  and  believe  myself  in  Elysium." 

The  languishing  glance  that  accompanied 
these  languishing  syllables  had  no  immediate 
effect  upon  the  lady  to  whom  they  were  ad- 
dressed. Still  Brilliana  looked  fixedly  at  her 
visitor,  and  still  Sir  Blaise  found  little  ease 
under  her  steady  gaze.  He  blinked  uncom- 
fortably ;  his  fingers  twitched ;  he  tried  to  moisten 
his  dry  lips.  At  length,  out  of  what  seemed  a 
wellnigh  ageless  silence,  the  lady  spoke,  and  her 
words  were  an  arraignment. 

"  Why  did  you  not  come  to  Harby  when  Har- 
by  needed  help?" 

Sir  Blaise  felt  weak  in  the  knees,  weak  in  the 

167 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

back,  weak  in  the  wits;  he  would  have  given 
much  for  a  seat,  more  for  a  sup  of  brandy.  But 
he  had  to  speak,  and  did  so  after  such  gasping 
and  stammering  as  spoiled  his  false  bravado. 

"I  came  to  speak  of  that,"  he  protested, 
forcing  a  jauntiness  that  he  was  far  from  feeling. 
"  I  feared  you  might  misunderstand— 

"Indeed,"  interrupted  Brilliana,  "I  think 
there  is  no  misunderstanding." 

Sir  Blaise  made  an  appealing  gesture. 

"  Hear  me  out,"  he  pleaded.  "  Hear  me  and 
pity  me.  The  news  of  his  Majesty's  quarrel 
with  his  Parliament  threw  me  into  such  a  dis- 
temper as  hath  kept  me  to  my  bed  these  three 
weeks.  My  people  held  all  news  from  me  for 
my  life's  sake.  It  was  but  this  morning  I  was 
judged  sound  enough  to  hear  of  all  that  has 
passed.  How  otherwise  should  I  not  have 
flown  to  your  succor?  I  could  wish  your  siege 
had  lasted  a  while  longer  to  give  me  the  glory 
of  delivering  you." 

The  sternness  faded  from  Brilliana's  gaze. 
She  was  not  really  angry  with  this  overcareful 
gentleman;  she  would  only  have  been  grieved 
had  he  proved  the  man  to  serve  her  well.  He 
was  no  more  for  such  enterprises  than  your  lap- 
dog  for  bull-baiting.  Ridiculous  in  his  finery, 
pitiful  in  his  subterfuge,  he  was  only  a  thing  to 

168 


SIR   BLAISE    PAYS   HIS   RESPECTS 

smile  at,  to  trifle  with.     So  she  smiled,  and,  ris- 
ing, swept  him  a  splendid  reverence. 

"  I  am  your  gallantry's  very  grateful  servant," 
she  whispered,  having  much  ado  to  keep  from 
laughing  in  his  face.  The  fatuous  are  easily 
pacified. 

"  I  hope  you  do  not  doubt  my  valor?"  he 
asked,  with  some  show  of  reassurance. 

"Indeed  I  have  no  doubt,"  Brilliana  an- 
swered, with  another  courtesy.  The  speech 
might  have  two  meanings.  Sir  Blaise,  unwill- 
ing to  split  hairs,  took  it  as  balsam,  and  hurried- 
ly turned  the  conversation. 

"  Well !  well !"  he  hummed.  "  You  seem  noth- 
ing the  w,orse  for  your  business." 

"  I  am  something  the  better,"  she  said,  softly. 
Perhaps  Sir  Blaise  did  not  hear  her. 

"Is  it  true,"  he  asked,  "that  you  harbor  a 
Crop-ear  in  this  house?" 

"Indeed,"  Brilliana  confirmed,  "I  hold  him 
as  hostage  for  the  life  of  Cousin  Randolph. 
You  know  that  he  is  a  prisoner?" 

"  I  heard  that  news  with  the  rest  of  the  bud- 
get," Sir  Blaise  answered.  "And  what  kind  of 
a  creature  is  your  captive  ?  Does  he  deafen  you 
with  psalms,  does  he  plague  you  with  exhorta- 
tions?" 

Brilliana  laughed  merrily. 

169 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"No,  no;  'tis  a  most  wonderful  wild -fowl. 
My  people  swear  he  is  mettled  in  all  gentle  arts, 
from  the  manage  of  horses  to  the  casting  of  a 
falcon." 

Sir  Blaise  shook  his  staff  in  protest  of  in- 
dignation. 

"Is  it  possible  that  such  a  rascal  usurps  the 
privileges  of  gentlefolk?" 

"He  carries  himself  like  a  gentleman,"  Brilli- 
ana  answered.  "  More's  the  pity  that  he  should 
be  false  to  his  king  and  his  kind." 

Sir  Blaise  smiled  condescendingly. 

"  Believe  me,  dear  lady,  you  are  misled.  A 
woman  may  be  deceived  by  an  exterior.  Doubt- 
less he  has  picked  up  his  gentility  in  the  ser- 
vants' hall  of  some  great  house,  and  seeks  to 
curry  your  favor  by  airing  it." 

"  He  has  persuaded  those  that  are  shrewd 
judges  of  men  to  praise  him." 

Again  Sir  Blaise  laughed  his  fat  laugh. 

"Ha,  ha!  Shrewd  judges  of  men.  I  will 
take  no  man's  judgment  but  my  own  of  this 
rascal.  Had  I  word  with  him  you  should  soon 
see  me  set  him  down." 

Brilliana's  glance  wandering  from  the  pied 
pomposity  who  strutted  before  her,  saw  a  sharp 
contrast  through  the  yew-tree  arch.  A  man  in 
sober  habit  was  moving  slowly  over  the  grass  in 

170 


SIR    BLAISE    PAYS    HIS   RESPECTS 

the  direction  of  the  pleasaunce,  moving  slowly, 
for  he  was  carrying  an  open  book  and  his  eyes 
were  fixed  upon  its  pages.  Truly  the  sombre 
Puritan  made  a  better  figure  than  her  swagger- 
ing neighbor.  She  looked  up  at  Sir  Blaise  with 
a  pretty  maliciousness  in  her  smile. 

"  You  can  have  your  will  even  now,"  she  said, 
"  for  I  spy  my  prisoner  coming  here — and  read- 
ing, too." 

Sir  Blaise  swung  round  upon  his  heels  and 
stared  in  the  direction  indicated  by  Brilliana. 
He  saw  Evander,  black  against  the  sunlit  trees, 
the  sunlit  grasses,  and  he  smiled  derisively.  He 
was  very  confident  that  there  was  no  courage 
as  there  could  be  no  wit  in  any  Puritan.  These 
things  were  the  privileges  of  Cavaliers. 

"  His  brains  are  buried  in  his  book,"  he  sneer- 
ed. "  If  a  stone  came  in  his  way  now  he  would 
stumble  over  it,  he's  so  deep  in  his  sour  studies. 
'Tis  some  ponderous  piece  of  divinity,  I'll  wager, 
levelled  against  kings." 

He  thought  he  was  speaking  low  to  his  com- 
panion, but  his  was  not  a  voice  of  musical  soft- 
ness, and  its  tones  jarred  the  quiet  air.  Evander 
caught  the  sound  of  it,  lifted  his  head,  and,  look- 
ing before  him  over  his  book,  saw  in  the  yew 
haven  Brilliana  seated  and  a  gaudy-coated  gen- 
tleman standing  by  her  side.  He  was  immedi- 

171 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

ately  for  turning  and  hastening  in  another  direc- 
tion, but  Brilliana,  for  all  she  hated  him,  would 
not  now  have  it  so.  Perhaps  she  had  been 
piqued  by  Sir  Blaise's  too  confident  assumption 
of  superiority  to  the  judgment  of  her  people; 
perhaps  she  thought  it  might  divert  her  to  see 
Puritan  and  Cavalier  face  each  other  before  her 
in  the  shadowed  circle  of  yews.  Whatever  her 
reason,  she  raised  her  hand  and  raised  her  voice 
to  stay  Evander's  purpose. 

"Sir,  sir!"  she  cried.  "Mr.  Cloud,  by  your 
leave,  I  would  have  you  come  hither.  Do  not 
turn  aside." 

Thus  summoned,  Evander  walked  with  slight- 
ly quickened  pace  to  the  place  where  Brilliana 
sat  and  saluted  her  with  formal  courtesy. 

"  I  cry  your  pardon,"  he  declared.  "  I  would 
not  intrude  on  your  quiet,  but  I  read  and  walked 
unconscious  that  there  was  company  among  the 
yews." 

Brilliana  answered  him  with  the  dignity  of  a 
gracious  and  benevolent  queen. 

"Do  not  withdraw,  sir;  you  have  the  liberty 
of  Loyalty  House,  and  I  would  not  have  you 
avoid  any  part  of  its  gardens." 

Evander  bowed.  Sir  Blaise  broke  into  a 
horse-laugh  which  grated  more  on  Brilliana' s 
ears  than  on  Evander's.  Brilliana  was  at  heart 

172 


SIR    BLAISE    PAYS    HIS    RESPECTS 

rather  angry  that  for  once  Puritan  should  show 
better  than  Cavalier. 

'You  are  a  vastly  happy  jack  to  be  used  so 
gently, ' '  he  bellowed.  "  Some  would  have  stuck 
such  a  hostage  in  a  garret  and  done  well 
enough." 

Evander  still  kept  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  lady 
of  the  house  and  seemed  to  have  no  ears  for  the 
jeering  Cavalier.  With  a  lift  of  the  hand  that 
indicated  and  saluted  the  prospect,  he  said, 
smoothly,  "You  have  a  very  gracious  garden, 
lady." 

Mirth  shone  discreetly  in  Brilliana's  eyes  as 
she  gave  the  Puritan  a  bow  for  his  praise.  The 
Cavalier,  a  viola  da  gamba  of  anger,  pegged  his 
string  of  bluster  tighter. 

"Did  not  the  fellow  hear  me?"  he  cried,  and 
this  time  his  noise  won  him  a  moment  of  atten- 
tion. Evander  gave  him  a  glance,  and  then, 
returning  to  Brilliana,  said,  with  a  manner  of 
amused  contempt,  'You  have  a  very  ungra- 
cious gardener." 

Sir  Blaise's  pink  face  purpled;  Sir  Blaise's 
hand  swung  to  the  hilt  of  his  sword.  Evander 
seemed  to  have  forgotten  his  existence  and  to 
await  quietly  any  further  favor  of  speech  from 
Brilliana.  My  Lady  Mischief,  much  diverted, 
judged  it  time  to  intervene. 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"Lordamercy!"  she  cried,  as  she  rose  from 
her  seat  and  moved  a  little  way  towards  Sir 
Blaise.  "  Let  me  bring  you  acquainted." 

The  Cavalier  caught  her  hand  and  stayed  her 
before  she  could  speak  his  name. 

"Wait,  wait,"  he  whispered.  "Watch  me 
roast  him." 

He  swung  away  from  her  and  swaggered  tow- 
ards Evander.  "Tell  me,  solemn  sir,"  he  ques- 
tioned, "have  you  heard  of  one  Sir  Blaise 
Mickleton?" 

"I  have  heard  of  him,"  Evander  answered. 
His  tranquil  indifference  to  Sir  Blaise 's  bearing, 
to  Sir  Blaise 's  splendor  of  apparel,  pricked  the 
knight  like  a  sting.  He  tried  to  change  the 
sum  of  his  irritation  into  the  small  money  of 
wit. 

"You  have  never  heard  that  he  snuffled 
through  his  nose,  turned  up  his  eyes,  mewed 
psalms  and  canticles,  and  dubbed  himself  by 
some  such  name  as  Fight-the-Good-Fight-of- 
Faith,  yea,  verily?" 

Sir  Blaise  talked  with  the  drawling  whine 
which  he  assumed  to  be  the  familiar  intonation 
of  all  Puritan  speech.  Like  many  another  hu- 
morless fellow,  he  prided  himself  upon  a  gift  of 
mimicry  signally  denied  to  him.  Even  Brilli- 
ana's  detestation  of  the  Puritan  party  could 


SIR    BLAISE    PAYS    HIS    RESPECTS 

not  compel  her  to  admire  her  neighbor's  per- 
formance. Evander's  face  showed  no  sign  of 
recognition  of  Sir  Blaise's  impertinence  as  he 
answered : 

"  No,  truly,  but  I  have  heard  some  talk  of  a 
swaggering  braggart,  prodigal  in  valiant  prom- 
ise, but  very  huckster  in  a  pitiful  performance; 
in  a  word,  a  clown  whose  attempt  to  ape  the 
courtier  has  never  veiled  the  clod." 

Brilliana  found  it  hard  to  restrain  her  laughter 
as  she  watched  the  varying  shades  of  fury  float 
over  Sir  Blaise's  broad  face  at  each  successive 
clause  of  Evander's  disdainful  indictment.  Yet 
she  was  sadly  vexed  to  think  that  her  side  com- 
manded so  poor  a  champion.  Sir  Blaise  tried 
to  speak,  gasped  out  a  furious  "Sir!"  then  his 
passion  choked  him,  and  he  gobbled,  inarticu- 
late and  grotesque.  Evander  went  composedly 
on: 

"  He  is  rated  a  King's  man,  and  would  serve 
his  master  well  if  much  tippling  of  healths  and 
clearing  of  trenchers  were  yeoman  service  in 
a  time  of  war.  But  his  sword  sleeps  in  its 
sheath." 

"Now,  by  St.  George—"  Sir  Blaise  yelled, 
raising  his  clinched  fists.  Brilliana  feared  at 
one  moment  that  he  would  strike  her  prisoner 
in  the  face ;  feared  in  the  next  that  he  would  fall 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

at  her  feet  dead  of  an  apoplexy.  She  sailed 
between  the  antagonists  and  addressed  Evan- 
der. 

"  Serious  sir,  will  it  dash  you  to  learn  that 
you  are  speaking  to  Sir  Blaise  Mickleton  ?" 

Evander's  countenance  showed  no  sign  either 
of  surprise  or  of  dismay.  Sir  Blaise,  still  turkey- 
red,  managed  to  gulp  down  his  choler  sufficient- 
ly to  utter  some  syllables. 

"  I  am  that  knight,"  he  gasped;  then,  turning 
to  Brilliana,  he  whispered  behind  his  hand, 
"Mark  now  how  this  bear  will  climb  down." 

Brilliana,  watching  Evander,  was  not  con- 
fident of  apologies.  Her  prisoner  made  a  slight 
inclination  of  the  head  towards  Sir  Blaise  in 
acknowledgment  of  the  fact  of  Brilliana 's  pres- 
entation, and  said,  very  calmly: 

"Why,  then,  sir,  such  a  jury  as  your  world 
has  empanelled  have  misread  you,  for  if  they 
summed  your  flaws  aptly  in  their  report  of  you, 
they  clapped  this  rider  on  their  staggering  ver- 
dict, that  Sir  Blaise  Mickleton  did,  at  his  worst, 
do  his  best  to  play  the  gentleman." 

Smiles  of  satisfaction  rippled  over  Sir  Blaise's 
face.  He  did  not  follow  the  drift  of  Evander's 
fluency  but  took  it  for  compliment. 

"Handsomely  apologized,  i'  faith,"  he  beam- 
ed to  Brilliana.  Brilliana  laughed  in  his  face. 

176 


SIR    BLAISE    PAYS    HIS    RESPECTS 

"Why,  poor  man,  he  flouts  you  worse  than 
ever,"  she  whispered. 

Sir  Blaise  knitted  puzzled  brows  while  Evan- 
der,  having  made  the  effective  pause,  continued, 
suavely : 

"  In  the  which  judgment  they  erred,  for  he 
does  not  merit  so  creditable  a  praise.  Sure  they 
can  never  have  seen  him  who  couple  in  any  way 
the  name  of  Sir  Blaise  Mickleton  with  the  title 
of  gentleman." 

Even  Sir  Blaise 's  dulness  could  not  misin- 
terpret Evander's  meaning,  and  rage  resumed  its 
sway. 

'  You  crow !  You  kite !"  he  fumed.  His  wrath 
could  find  no  more  words,  but  he  made  a  stride 
towards  Evander,  menacing.  Brilliana  stepped 
dexterously  between  the  two.  As  she  told 
Tiffany  later,  she  felt  as  if  she  were  gliding  be- 
tween fire  and  ice. 

"  One  side  of  me  was  frozen,  and  the  other 
done  to  a  crisp. ' '  She  lifted  her  hand  command- 
ingly. 

"We  will  have  no  bickering  here,"  she  pro- 
tested. Evander  paid  her  a  salutation,  and, 
moving  a  little  aside,  resumed  his  book.  He 
would  not  retire  while  Sir  Blaise  was  in  pres- 
ence, but  he  guessed  that  the  lady  wished  for 
speech  with  her  friend.  Sir  Blaise  did  not  find 

177 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

her  words  consolatory,  though  she  affected  con- 
solation. 

"The  bear  licks  with  a  rough  tongue,"  she 
whispered.  Sir  Blaise  slapped  his  palms  to- 
gether. 

"  You  shall  see  me  ring  him,  you  shall  see  me 
bait  him,  if  you  will  but  leave  us." 

"How shall  I  see  if  I  leave?"  Brilliana  asked, 
provokingly.  "  But  'tis  no  matter." 

As  she  spoke  she  thought  of  Half  man,  and 
a  merry  scheme  danced  in  her  head. 

"  Gentles,  I  must  leave  you,"  she  cried,  with  a 
pretty  little  reverence  that  included  both  men. 
Then  in  a  moment  she  had  slipped  out  of  the 
pleasaunce  and  was  running  down  the  avenue. 
In  the  house  she  found  Halfman.  "  Quick!"  she 
cried,  breathlessly.  "Sir  Blaise  and  Mr.  Cloud 
are  wrangling  yonder  like  dogs  over  a  bone." 

"  Do  you  wish  me  to  keep  the  peace  between 
them?"  Halfman  questioned.  Brilliana  did  not 
exactly  know  what  she  wished.  She  was  fretted 
at  the  poor  show  a  King's  man  had  made  before 
a  Puritan;  if  Sir  Blaise  could  do  something  to 
humble  the  Puritan  it  might  not  be  wholly 
amiss.  So  much  Halfman  gathered  from  her 
jerky  scraps  of  sentences;  also,  that  on  no  ac- 
count must  the  disputants  be  permitted  to  come 
to  swords.  Halfman  nodded,  caught  up  a  staff, 

178 


SIR    BLAISE   PAYS   HIS   RESPECTS 

and  ran  full  tilt  to  the  pleasaunce.  The  moment 
his  back  was  turned  Brilliana,  instead  of  re- 
maining in  the  house,  came  out  again,  doubled 
on  her  course,  and  dodging  among  the  hedges 
found  herself  peeping  unseen  upon  the  enclosure 
she  had  just  quitted  and  the  brawl  at  its  height. 


XX 
SIR    BLAISE    PAYS   HIS    PENALTY 

WHEN  Biilliana  quitted  them  the  two  men 
had  regarded  each  other  steadily  for  a  few  sec- 
onds in  silence.  Then  Sir  Blaise  spoke. 

"  You  made  merry  with  me  just  now  in  ease 
and  safety,  a  lady  being  by." 

Evander  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"Had  no  lady  been  by  I  should  have  been 
more  merry  and  less  tender." 

Sir  Blaise  scowled. 

"  I  am  ill  to  provoke,  my  master.  Those  quar- 
rels end  sadly  that  are  quarrels  picked  with  me." 

Again  Evander  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  I  pick  no  quarrel,  sir.  You  asked  me  very 
straightly  what  I  knew  of  Sir  Blaise  Mickleton, 
and  very  straightly  I  tended  you  my  knowledge. 
It  is  not  my  fault,  but  rather  your  misfortune, 
that  you  happen  to  be  Sir  Blaise  Mickleton." 

Sir  Blaise  dropped  his  hand  to  his  sword- 
hilt. 

"You  Puritan  jack,"  he  shouted,  "will  you 
try  sharper  conclusions?" 

1 80 


SIR    BLAISE   PAYS   HIS   PENALTY 

In  a  moment  and  involuntarily  Evander's 
hand  sought  his  own  weapon.  It  was  in  that 
moment  that  Halfman  burst  into  the  pleas- 
aunce. 

"Why,  what's  the  matter  here?"  he  cited, 
wielding  his  staff  as  if  it  had  been  the  scimitar 
of  the  Moor.  "  Hold,  for  your  lives!  For  Chris- 
tian shame  put  by  this  barbarous  brawl." 

The  disputants  greeted  their  interrupter  dif- 
ferently. Evander  paid  Halfman's  memory  the 
tribute  of  an  appreciative  smile.  Sir  Blaise 
turned  to  him  as  to  a  sympathizer  and  backer. 

"  This  Puritan  dog  has  insulted  me."  he  cried. 

Halfman  nodded  sagaciously.  "And  you 
would  let  a  little  of  his  malapert  blood  for  him. 
But  it  may  not  be." 

He  addressed  Evander.  "  You  are  a  prisoner 
on  parole,  wearing  your  sword  by  a  lady's  favor, 
and  may  not  use  it  here." 

'You  are  in  the  right,"  Evander  answered, 
"  and  I  ask  your  lady's  pardon  if  for  a  moment 
I  forgot  where  I  am  and  why." 

'Yah,  yah,  fox,"  grinned  Sir  Blaise,  who  be- 
lieved that  his  enemy  was  glad  to  be  out  of 
the  quarrel.  But  Halfman,  who  knew  better, 
smiled. 

'There  are  other  ways,"  he  suggested,  pleas- 
antly, "  by  which  two  gentlemen  may  void  their 

181 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

spleen  without  drawing  their  toasting  -  irons. 
Why  should  we  not  mimic  sword-play  with  a 
pair  of  honest  cudgels?" 

Blaise  slapped  his  thigh  approvingly,  for  he 
was  good  at  rustic  sports.  Halfman  turned  his 
dark  face  upon  Evander. 

"  Has  my  suggestion  the  fortune  to  meet  with 
your  approval?"  he  asked.  Evander  nodded. 
"Then  let  Sir  Blaise  handle  his  own  staff,  and 
you,  camerado,  take  mine — 'tis  of  a  length  with 
your  enemy's — and  set  to." 

Halfman  watched  Evander  narrowly  while 
he  spoke.  Skill  with  the  rapier  did  not  neces- 
sarily imply  skill  with  the  cudgel.  He  bore 
Evander  no  grudge  for  overcoming  him  at 
fence,  but  if  Sir  Blaise  proved  the  better  man 
with  the  batoon,  there  would  be  a  kind  of  com- 
pensation in  it.  He  had  heard  that  Sir  Blaise 
was  apt  at  country-sports  and  now  Sir  Blaise 
vaunted  his  knowledge. 

"Let  me  tell  you  to  your  trembling,"  he 
crowed,  "that  I  am  the  best  cudgel-player  in 
these  parts.  I  will  drub  you,  I  will  trounce 
you,  I  will  tan  your  hide." 

"That  will  be  as  it  shall  be,"  Evander  an- 
swered. He  had  taken  the  staff  that  Halfman 
had  proffered,  and  after  weighing  it  in  his  hand 
and  carefully  examining  its  texture  had  set  it 

182 


SIR   BLAISE   PAYS   HIS   PENALTY 

up  against  the  seat,  while  he  prepared  to  strip 
off  his  jerkin.  Halfman  assisted  Sir  Blaise  to 
extricate  himself  from  his  beribboned  doublet, 
and  the  two  men  faced  each  other  in  their  shirts, 
Evander's  linen  fine  and  plain,  like  all  about 
him,  Sir  Blaise's  linen  fine  and  ostentatious, 
like  all  about  him,  and  reeking  of  ambergris. 
Evander  was  not  a  small  man,  but  his  body 
seemed  very  slender  by  contrast  with 'the  well- 
nourished  bulk  of  the  country-gentleman,  and 
many  a  one  would  have  held  that  the  match 
was  strangely  unequal.  But  Halfman  did  not 
think  so,  seeing  how  deliberately  Evander  en- 
tered upon  the  enterprise,  and  even  Sir  Blaise's 
self-conceit  was  troubled  by  his  antagonist's 
alacrity  in  accepting  the  challenge. 

"  If  you  tender  me  your  grief  for  your  inso- 
lence," he  suggested,  with  truculent  condescen- 
sion, "you  will  save  yourself  a  basting." 

Evander  laughed  outright,  the  blithest  laugh 
that  Halfman  had  yet  heard  pass  from  his  Puri- 
tan lips. 

"  I  must  deny  you,  pomposity,"  he  answered, 
gayly.  "It  were  pity  to  postpone  a  pleasure." 

'You  are  in  the  right,"  commented  Halfman. 
"Come,  sirs,  enough  words;  let  us  to  deeds. 
Begin." 

The  sticks  swung  in  the  air  and  met  with  a 

183 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

crack,  each  man's  hand  pressing  his  cudgel  hard 
against  the  other's,  each  man's  foot  firm  and 
springing,  each  man's  eyes  seeking  to  read  in 
the  other's  the  secret  of  his  assault.  Suddenly 
Blaise  made  a  feint  at  Evander's  leg  and  then 
swashed  for  his  head. 

"Have  a  care  for  your  crown,"  he  shouted, 
confident  in  his  stroke;  but  Evander  met  the 
blow  instantly  and  wood  only  rattled  on  wood. 

"I  have  cared  for  it,"  he  said,  quietly,  as  he 
came  on  guard  again,  making  no  attempt  to  re- 
turn Sir  Blaise's  attack.  Sir  Blaise  reversed  his 
tactics,  feinted  at  Evander's  head,  and  swept 
a  furious  semicircle  at  Evander's  legs. 

"  Save  your  shins,  then,"  he  cried,  and  grunted 
with  rage  as  he  again  encountered  Evander's 
swiftly  revolving  staff  and  heard  Evander  an- 
swer, mockingly: 

"  I  have  saved  them." 

Inarticulate  fury  goaded  him.  "  I  will  play 
with  you  no  longer!"  he  growled,  and  made  a 
rush  for  Evander,  raining  blow  upon  blow  as 
quickly  as  he  could  deliver  them,  and  hoping  to 
break  down  Evander's  guard.  But  Evander, 
giving  ground  a  little  before  his  antagonist's  on- 
slaught, met  the  attacks  with  a  mill-wheel  revo- 
lution of  his  weapon  which  kept  him  scathe- 
less, and  then  suddenly  his  cudgel  shot  out, 

184 


SIR    BLAISE    PAYS   HIS    PENALTY 

came  with  a  sullen  crack  on  Sir  Blaise's  skull, 
and  the  tussle  was  over.  Sir  Blaise  was  lying 
his  length  on  the  grass,  very  still,  and  there  was 
blood  upon  his  ruddy  hair. 

Brilliana  in  hiding  gave  a  little  gasp  when  she 
saw  her  neighbor  fall ;  she  could  not  tell  whether 
to  laugh  or  cry  at  the  defeat  of  the  Cavalier. 
She  saw  Halfman  bend  over  the  fallen  man  and 
lift  his  head  upon  his  knee.  She  saw  Evander 
advance  and  look  down  upon  his  adversary. 

"I  hope  you  are  not  hurt,"  Evander  said, 
solicitously. 

Halfman  glanced  up  at  the  victor.  "  No 
harm's  done,"  he  said.  "He  was  stunned  for 
the  moment;  he  is  coming  round." 

And  in  confirmation  of  his  words  Sir  Blaise 
opened  his  eyes,  and  then  with  difficulty  sat 
up  and  stared  ruefully  at  Evander. 

"Gogs!"  he  said,  first  rubbing  his  head  and 
then  looking  at  his  reddened  palm.  "Gogs! 
That  was  a  swinging  snip.  I  am  as  dizzy  as  a 
winged  pigeon." 

"Let  me  help  you  to  rise,"  Evander  said, 
courteously.  Blaise  shook  his  aching  head. 

"  I  am  none  too  fluttered  to  find  my  feet,"  he 
asserted,  ignoring  the  fact  that  his  rising  from 
the  ground  to  an  erect  posture  was  entirely  due 
to  the  combined  efforts  of  Halfman  and  Evan- 

185 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY   HOUSE 

der,  one  on  each  side,  and  then,  when  he  did  get 
to  his  feet,  he  was  only  able  to  retain  the  per- 
pendicular by  leaning  heavily  upon  Halfman 
as  a  steady  prop.  From  under  his  bandaged 
forehead  his  pale-blue  eyes  regarded  Evander 
with  no  trace  of  enmity. 

"Your  hand,  Puritan — your  hand!"  he  cried. 
"  Tis  just  that  we  clasp  hands  after  a  scuffle." 

Puritan  and  Cavalier  clasped  hands  in  a 
hearty  grip.  "I  am  at  your  service,"  Evan- 
der said,  gravely.  "Shall  we  continue?"  Sir 
Blaise  shook  his  head  again. 

"I  have  had  my  bellyful,"  he  grunted. 
"There  was  breakfast,  dinner,  supper  in  your 
stroke.  I  must  to  the  house  to  find  vinegar 
and  brown  paper  to  patch  my  poll." 

"  Can  I  aid  you  ?"  Evander  offered.  "  I  have 
some  slight  skill  in  surgery." 

"Leave  him  to  me,"  Halfman  interposed. 
"  I  have  botched  as  many  heads  as  I  have 
broken." 

Sir  Blaise,  leaning  heavily  on  Half  man's  arm, 
replied  to  Evander's  offer  in  his  own  way. 

"  I  will  not  have  you  mend  ill  what  you  have 
marred  well.  Come,  crutch,  let  us  be  jogging. 
We  will  meet  again  another  time,  my  fighting 
Puritan." 

Evander  made  him  a  bow.  "At  your  pleas- 
186 


SIR    BLAISE   PAYS   HIS   PENALTY 

ure,"  he  replied,  and  stood  till  Sir  Blaise,  leaning 
on  Half  man,  had  hobbled  out  of  the  pleasaunce 
and  limped  out  of  sight.  Then  he  drew  on  his 
jerkin  again  with  a  smile  and  a  sigh. 

"  Truly,"  he  thought,  "  for  a  man  who  has  but 
three  days  to  live,  I  cannot  be  said  to  be  wasting 
much  idle  time."  With  that  he  took  up  again 
the  book  he  had  laid  down  and  was  soon  deep 
in  its  study. 


XXI 
A   PUZZLING   PURITAN 

So  deep  was  Evander  in  his  book  that  he  did 
not  hear  a  lady's  footfalls  on  the  grass.  When 
the  discomfited  Sir  Blaise  had  quitted  the  arena 
Brilliana  held  herself  unseen  and  then  swiftly 
sped  back  to  the  pleasaunce.  She  stood  for 
some  seconds  on  the  threshold  of  a  yew  arch 
watching  the  reading  man  and  wondering  why 
it  had  pleased  Providence  to  make  a  Puritan 
so  personable  and  skilful,  wondering  why  she  of 
all  women  should  take  any  interest  either  in  his 
person  or  in  his  skill,  wondering  how  long  he 
would  remain  buried  in  his  tiresome  book  un- 
conscious of  her  presence.  She  decided  that 
she  would  slip  away  and  leave  him  ignorant  of 
her  coming,  and  having  decided  that,  she  cough- 
ed loudly,  at  which  sound,  of  course,  he  turned 
round,  saw  her,  and  rose  respectfully  to  his 
feet. 

"I  fear  I  trespass  in  your  paradise,"  he  said, 
wistfully. 

"My  honor,  no!"  Brilliana  cried,  pretending 
188 


A    PUZZLING    PURITAN 

to  look  about  her  anxiously.  "  But  where  is  Sir 
Blaise?  I  hope  you  two  did  not  quarrel." 

"No,  no,"  Evander  protested;  "we  parted  on 
clasped  hands.  Some  pressing  matter  called 
him  to  his  quarters." 

"  Did  you  pay  him  apology  for  your  equivocal 
wit?"  Brilliana  asked,  demurely. 

Evander  answered  gravely:  "He  professed 
himself  satisfied." 

Brilliana  feigned  a  cry  of  horror. 

"I  trust  you  did  not  eat  your  words." 

Evander  shook  his  head. 

"  I  am  not  so  hungry.  Have  I  your  leave  to 
go?" 

He  made  as  if  to  depart;  Brilliana  met  his 
motion  with  a  little  frown. 

"Are  you  so  eager?"  she  asked,  in  a  voice  in 
which  regret  and  petulance  were  dexterously 
commingled. 

Evander  answered  her  gravely.  'Yesterday 
you  said  that  a  Puritan  presence  was  hateful." 

Brilliana  laughed  blithely  and  her  curls 
quivered  in  the  sunshine. 

"  You  must  not  harp  on  a  mad  maid's  anger. 
Yesterday  you  were  my  enemy,  a  thing  of 
threats  and  treason.  To-day  all's  different;  to- 
day you  are  my  guest.  Soon  you  will  ride 
hence,  and  we  will,  if  Providence  please,  never 

189 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

meet  again.  But  for  a  span  of  hours  let  us  make 
believe  to  be  friend  and  friend,  till  Colonel 
Cromwell  send  my  cousin  and  your  liberty." 

Evander  was  tempted  to  quarrel  with  him- 
self for  being  so  ready  to  welcome  this  overture. 
But  yesterday  this  woman  had  spattered  him 
with  insults,  snared  him  on  a  strained  plea,  bar- 
gained away  his  life  for  the  body  of  a  spy. 
Yesterday  she  had  shuddered  at  the  thought  of 
any  link  of  kinship  between  them,  as  she  might 
have  shuddered  at  kinship  with  a  wronger  of 
women,  a  killer  of  children,  a  coward.  Yet  to- 
day, as  she  stood  there,  sunshine  on  her  hair, 
sunshine  in  her  eyes,  a  fairy  lady  standing  in 
that  circle  of  solemn  yews,  he  could  find  in  his 
heart  no  regret  for  anything  that  had  brought 
him  to  her  presence.  He  would  take  gladly 
what  she  offered  gayly,  two  days  of  friendship 
with  so  radiant  a  maid — and  then  ?  He  left 
that  thought  unanswered  to  reply  to  Brilliana. 

"Madam,"  he  said,  with  a  very  ceremonious 
bow,  "  I  will  pretend  that  we  are  going  to  be 
friends  till  the  end  of  my  life." 

Brilliana  clapped  her  hands  like  a  child  that 
has  been  promised  some  coveted  comfit. 

"You  are  brave  at  make-believe.  In  the 
mean  time  let  us  keep  each  other  company  a 
little.  Surely  it  is  dull  for  a  man  of  action  to  be 

190 


A   PUZZLING    PURITAN 

a  prisoner,  and  for  my  own  part  I  mope  sadly 
now  that  my  little  war  is  well  over." 

She  had  seated  herself  as  she  spoke,  and  she 
motioned  to  Evander  to  take  his  place  by  her 
side.  When  she  paused  he  asked: 

"Are  you  so  strenuous  an  amazon?" 

She  answered  him  very  earnestly : 

"  I  miss  the  splendid  music  of  the  siege,  the 
stir  of  arms,  the  bustle  of  giving  order,  the  alert- 
ness of  expectation.  I  did  not  think  a  woman's 
life  could  be  tuned  to  so  high  a  diapason.  Just 
think  of  it!  Yesterday,  and  for  many  yester- 
days, I  was  a  leaguered  lady,  a  priestess  of 
battles;  I  stood  for  the  King;  existence  was 
one  fierce  ecstasy.  To  drop  from  that  brisk 
spin  and  whetted  edge  of  life  into  this  house- 
wife's twilight  is  all  one  with  being  some  sea- 
old  admiral  and  drowning  in  a  canal." 

The  daughters  of  Israel  could  not  have  thrown 
more  sadness  into  their  voice,  Evander  thought, 
as  they  sang  by  the  waters  of  Babylon.  If  her 
face  was  fair  in  animation,  it  seemed  still  more 
fair  in  sadness. 

"Has  the  Lady  of  Harby  no  employment," 
he  asked,  gently,  "to  spur  the  trudging  time?" 

Brilliana  laughed  rather  cheerlessly. 

"Oh,  mercy,  yes!  Can  she  not  overwatch 
the  gardener  to  see  that  he  planteth  the  right 

191 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

sort  of  herbs  and  flowers  at  the  new  of  the  moon, 
at  moon  full,  and  at  moon  old?  She  can  chat 
with  Mistress  Cook  of  sallets  and  fricassees  and 
fritters ;  she  can  count  the  linen ;  she  can  pre- 
serve quinces;  she  can  distil  you  aqua  com- 
posita  or  imperial  water,  or  water  of  Bettony, 
against  she  grow  old;  she  can  be  dairy- wise, 
cellar-wise,  laundry-wise — oh,  there  are  a  thou- 
sand thousand  things  she  can  do  if  she  want  to  do 
them,  but  the  plague  of  it  is,  since  I  have  burned 
powder,  these  decent  drudgeries  no  longer  divert 
me." 

She  gave  a  little  sigh  as  she  ended  her  enu- 
meration of  a  housewife's  tasks,  and  then  ban- 
ished the  sigh  with  a  smile.  Evander  found 
himself  thinking  that  a  man  might  count  him- 
self happy  for  whom  this  lady  should  sigh  so  at 
parting  and  smile  so  in  welcome.  But  what  he 
said  was: 

"Against  your  next  distillation  I  can  give 
you  a  very  praisable  recipe  for  a  cordial.  It  is  a 
Swedish  fancy  and  much  favored  by  the  ladies 
of  the  North." 

Brilliana  looked  him  full  in  the  face  and 
laughed  very  merrily,  and  he  felt  his  cheeks 
redden  at  her  gaze  and  her  mirth. 

"Was  there  ever  such  a  man-marvel?"  she 
asked.  "All  my  people  praise  you  for  some 

192 


A   PUZZLING   PURITAN 

different  accomplishment.  A  horseman,  a  gar- 
dener, the  best  at  fence,  the  best,  too,  with  a 
cudgel— 

"Ah,  madam,"  Evander  interrupted,  apolo- 
getically, "pray  how  has  that  come  to  your  ears  ?" 

"Never  mind  how  it  came,"  Brilliana  an- 
swered, "  so  that  it  has  come  and  that  I  owe 
you  no  ill-will  for  teaching  a  foolish  gentleman 
a  lesson.  But  you  can  shoot,  it  seems,  and 
play  games,  and  are  apt  in  out-door  arts  and 
wise  in  out-of-doors  wisdom — for  all  the  world 
like  a  country  gentleman." 

"  Madam,  I  am,  as  I  hope,  a  gentleman,  and  as 
for  the  country  knowledge,  I  have  lived  its  life 
in  many  lands  and  learned  something  by  the 
way." 

"And  now,"  Brilliana  bantered  on,  "you 
boast  some  science  of  the  still-room,  and  Mis- 
tress Satchell  speaks  of  a  Spanish  manner  of 
grilling  capons.  Are  you,  perhaps,  a  herald  as 
well  as  a  master  cook,  and  do  you  know  some- 
thing of  the  gentle  and  joyous  craft  of  the  hunts- 
man?" 

Evander  took  her  in  her  humor  and  bandied 
back  the  ball  of  qualification. 

"  I  can  prick  a  coat  indifferently  well,"  he  re- 
sponded, solemnly,  "and  if  such  trifles  delight 
you,  I  can  blaze  arms  by  the  days  of  the  week 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

or  the  ages  of  man  or  the  flowers  of  the  field, 
though  I  hold  that  a  true  herald  will  never  stray 
beyond  colors." 

Brilliana  nodded  her  head  with  an  air  of  pro- 
found approval.  "  Better  and  better,"  she  mur- 
mured. Evander  went  on  with  his  catalogue  of 
self -compliment . 

"And  as  for  my  woodcraft,  I  can  name  you 
all  the  names  of  a  male  deer,  from  hind  calf, 
year  by  year,  through  brocket  and  spayed,  and 
staggard  and  stag,  till  his  sixth  year,  when  he  is 
truly  a  hart  and  has  his  rights  of  brow,  bay,  and 
tray  antlers.  I  am  skilled  in  the  uses  of  falcon- 
gentle,  gerfalcon,  saker,  lanner,  merlin,  hobby, 
goshawk,  sparrow-hawk,  and  musket— 

Brilliana  interrupted  him  with  an  impetuous 
gesture  of  command,  and  Evander  made  an  end 
of  his  display. 

"Enough,  enough!"  she  cried.  "I  feel  like 
Balkis  when  she  came  to  sip  wisdom  from  Solo- 
mon's goblet.  If  I  question  you  further  I  may 
find  that,  like  my  Lord  Verulam,  you  have 
taken  all  knowledge  for  your  province.  This  is 
something  uncanny  in  a  Puritan." 

Evander  protested. 

"Why  should  a  man  deny  the  arts  of  life  be- 
cause he  finds  strength  in  the  faith  of  the  Puri- 
tans?" 


A   PUZZLING   PURITAN 

"I  know  not  why,"  Brilliana  answered,  "but 
so  it  is  generally  believed  among  us  who  are  not 
Puritans." 

"There  are  fanatic  fellows  with  us  as  in  all 
causes,"  Evander  admitted,  "and  some,  it  may 
be,  who  wear  moroseness  to  gain  favor.  But 
these  are  no  more  than  the  fringe  of  a  stout 
cloak.  I  am  no  exceptional  Puritan,  I  promise 
you.  Colonel  Cromwell  himself— 

Brilliana  interrupted  him  with  a  frowning 
imperiousness. 

"Let  us  not  talk  of  Colonel  Cromwell,"  she 
commanded. 

"  I  wish  you  would  let  me  speak  of  Colonel 
Cromwell,"  Evander  pleaded.  "He  has  long 
been  my  dear  friend,  and— 

"  Let  us  not  talk  of  Colonel  Cromwell,"  Brilli- 
ana repeated,  with  a  peremptory  stamp  of  the 
foot.  "  I  want  to  talk  of  you  and  your  curious 
Puritanism.  I  thought  you  were  all  too  hypo- 
critically devout  to  have  any  care  for  the  toys 
and  colors  of  life." 

"To  be  devout  is  not  to  be  hypocritical," 
Evander  urged,  gently.  "And,  to  speak  for 
myself,  I  hope  I  am  devout,  but  I  do  not  find 
my  faith  weakened  by  honorable  enjoyment  of 
honorable  pleasures.  Yet,  indeed,  what  poor 
accomplishments  I  can  lay  claim  to  —  and  to 


14 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

afford  you  diversion,  I  have  somewhat  exagger- 
ated their  scope  and  number — are  due  directly 
to  my  being  a  Puritan— 

"You  are  pleased  to  be  paradoxical,"  Brilli- 
ana  asserted.  Evander  put  the  suggestion  aside 
with  a  head  shake. 

"To  my  being  a  Puritan  and  to  my  being  of 
your  kin.  When  I  was  a  boy  I  learned  of  that 
kinship,  learned  how  her  marriage  with  a  Puri- 
tan had  earned  for  a  woman  of  your  race  the 
scorn,  indeed  the  hatred  of  her  family,  or  those 
who  should  most  and  best  have  loved  her." 

"You  do  not  understand  how  strongly  those 
who  think  as  we  think  feel  on  such  a  matter," 
Brilliana  urged,  one-half  of  her  spirit  angry  that 
she  was  speaking  almost  apologetically,  the 
other  half  vexed  that  the  first  half  was  not  more 
angry. 

"Forgive  me,"  said  Evander,  "but  I  do  un- 
derstand; I  understand  very  well;  I  made  it 
my  business  to  understand.  And,  therefore,  I 
resolved  that  so  far  as  in  me  lay  I  would  show 
those  who  scorned  my  people  and  my  creed 
that  a  Puritan  might  compete  with  his  enemies 
in  all  the  arts  and  graces  they  held  most 
dear,  and  not  come  off  the  worst  in  all  en- 
counters." 

"That  was  a  brave  resolve!"  Brilliana's  eyes 
196 


A   PUZZLING   PURITAN 

and  voice  applauded  him.  He  flushed  a  little 
as  he  went  on. 

"  It  was  a  kind  of  oath  of  Hannibal.  God 
was  gracious  in  the  gift  of  a  strong  will,  and  I 
stuck  to  my  purpose.  I  mastered  arts,  ac- 
quired tongues,  forced  myself  to  dexterity  in  all 
manly  exercises.  I  had  a  modest  patrimony 
which  allowed  me  to  travel  after  I  left  Cam- 
bridge, and  so  gain  that  knowledge  of  the  world 
which  is  so  dear  to  English  gentlemen.  And 
always  in  my  thoughts  it  was:  some  day  I  may 
meet  some  son  of  the  house  that  cast  us  out  and 
show  him  that  a  Puritan  might  fear  God  and 
yet  ride  a  horse,  fly  a  hawk,  and  use  a  sword 
with  the  best  of  his  enemies." 

"Instead  of  which,"  said  Brilliana,  as  he 
paused,  "  you  meet  a  daughter  of  the  house  and 
play  your  well  -  practised  part  to  her."  Her 
voice  was  stern  now  and  her  eyes  shone  fiercely 
as  she  leaned  forward  and  continued  in  a  low 
voice,  "  Was  this  the  cause  of  your  coming  to 
Harby?" 

"No,"  Evander  answered.  "I  should  never 
have  come  to  Harby  of  my  own  accord.  But 
news  came  to  Cambridge  of  your  flying  the 
King's  flag.  The  example  was  dangerous;  Har- 
by was  a  good  house  for  either  side  to  hold. 
Colonel  Cromwell  commanded  me  to  march 

197 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

with  the  volunteers  I  had  raised  at  Cambridge 
to  secure  Harby  in  the  name  of  the  Parlia- 
ment." 

"And  you  were  very  glad  to  obey,"  Brilliana 
said,  bitterly,  and  again  Evander  shook  his 
head. 

"  I  was  very  sorry  to  obey.  But  I  had  no 
choice.  Colonel  Cromwell  was  my  father's 
friend;  he  knew  the  story  of  my  people;  he  set 
it  upon  me  as  a  special  seal  for  righteousness 
that  I  should  do  this  thing  '  Kin  shall  be  set 
against  kin  in  this  strife,'  he  said,  '  father  against 
son,  and  brother  against  brother.  Go  forth  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord  and  pluck  the  banner  of 
Baal  from  the  wall  of  Harby.'  And  I  went." 

Brilliana,  lifting  her  head,  looked  over  the 
green  wall  of  yews  to  where,  in  the  cool,  gray- 
blue  of  the  October  sky,  the  royal  standard  flut- 
tered its  gaudy  folds  in  the  wind.  She  said  noth- 
ing, but  her  smile  spoke  whole  volumes  of  vic- 
tories; the  panegyrics  of  a  thousand  triumphs 
gleamed  in  her  eyes.  Evander  read  smile  and 
gleam  rightly. 

"True,  I  failed,"  he  admitted.  "Yet  I  may 
not  say  that  I  am  sorry,  for  if  I  had  not  failed 
I  should  have  lost  a  friend." 

He  looked  admiringly  at  her,  but  Brilliana 
drew  herself  up  stiffly  and  regarded  him  coldly. 

198 


A    PUZZLING    PURITAN 

"You  may  be  my  kinsman  without  being 
my  friend,"  she  said,  with  a  sourness  which 
had  the  effect  of  making  Evander  laugh  like 
a  boy. 

"Why,  lady,"  he  protested,  "it  is  not  ten 
minutes  since  that  you  proffered  me  your 
friendship." 

"Did  I  so?"  Brilliana  asked,  puckering  her 
brows  as  if  in  doubt,  though  she  had  not  the 
least  doubt  upon  the  matter. 

"Indeed,  madam,"  said  Evander,  very  ear- 
nestly, "friends  for  a  lifetime."  Brilliana  snap- 
ped contradiction. 

"  No,  no;  it  was  you  who  said  that.  I  admit 
the  friendship  for  three  days." 

"And  I  assert  the  friendship  of  a  lifetime," 
Evander  persisted.  His  voice  and  his  eyes  were 
very  merry,  but  there  came  an  unconquerable 
gnawing  at  his  heart  that,  in  spite  of  the  fair 
place  and  the  fair  face  and  the  sweet  discourse, 
life  for  him  meant  no  more  than  a  space  of  three 
days.  Well,  then,  he  would  live  his  three  days 
bravely,  brightly.  He  lifted  his  eyes  to  the  lady. 

"Are  you  of  Master  Amiens'  school?"  he 
asked— 

" '  Most  friendship  is  feigning,  most  love  is  mere  folly.' " 

She  made  no  reply  to  his  question,  but  its 

199 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

matter  surprised  her  and  prompted  her  to  an- 
other. 

"  Do  you  go  to  Master  Shakespeare's  school  ?" 
she  asked ;  and  even  as  she  spoke  she  leaned  for- 
ward to  look  at  the  book  he  had  laid  down  and 
to  which,  till  that  moment,  she  had  paid  no 
heed.  She  drew  it  towards  her  and  saw  what  it 
was. 

"Why,  here  are  his  plays.  Can  you  affect 
him  when  'tis  known  that  the  King  loves  him  ?" 

"  I  would  the  King  had  no  worse  counsellors," 
Evander  said,  gravely. 

Brilliana  had  lifted  the  big  book  orrto  her  lap 
and  was  turning  the  pages  tenderly,  pausing 
here  and  there  with  loving  murmurs. 

"Had  I  been  a  man,"  she  said,  softly,  "I 
should  have  turned  player  for  the  pleasure  to 
speak  such  golden  words." 

Evander,  watching  her  fair,  lowered  face 
under  its  crown  of  dark  hair,  thought  of  all 
that  Imogen  might  mean,  or  Rosalind  or  Juliet, 
did  each  of  these  dear  ones  show  on  the  stage 
like  this  lady.  He  gave  the  odd  thought  form 
in  speech. 

"It  is  strange,"  he  said,  almost  to  himself, 
"that  a  Cavalier  world  is  content  without 
women  players." 

Brilliana  lifted  her  face  from  the  book,  and 

200 


A   PUZZLING   PURITAN 

there  was  a  look  of  astonishment  and  even  of 
pain  upon  it. 

"Oh,  that  is  quite  another  matter,"  she  said, 
quickly.  "That  could  never  come  to  pass." 

Evander's  Puritanism,  recalled  to  recollection 
of  itself,  felt  compelled  to  assent. 

"  I  trust  not,"  he  said,  gravely.  He  was  look- 
ing at  Brilliana  with  eyes  that  were  honestly 
admiring.  She  rose  from  her  seat. 

"I  must  dismiss  you  now,"  she  said,  "for  I 
have  much  to  do  ere  dinner.  You  will  dine 
with  me,  I  pray." 

Evander  made  her  a  not  uncourtly  bow. 

"If  I  be  not  unwelcome,"  he  suggested. 

Brilliana  shook  her  head  very  positively. 

"We  are  pledged  friends  for  the  time,  and 
friends  love  to  break  bread  together." 

There  was  no  countering  this  argument. 
Evander  took  up  the  folio  and  made  its  owner 
another  bow. 

"I  will  attend  you  at  the  dinner-hour,"  he 
said.  "This  treasure  I  restore  to  its  home." 

As  the  Parliament  man  moved  away  across 
the  grass,  his  image  very  dark  against  its  green, 
Brilliana  looked  after  him,  nursing  her  chin  in 
her  palm  and  her  elbow  on  her  knee.  As  he 
entered  the  house  with  the  big  book  under  his 
arm  she  took  out  her  pretty  handkerchief,  and 


THE    LADY   OF   LOYALTY    HOUSE 

with  much  deliberation  tied  a  small  knot  in  one 
corner  of  it. 

"Master  Puritan,  Master  Puritan,"  she  mur- 
mured, "  I  must  tie  a  knot  in  my  handkerchief 
to  remind  me  that  you  and  I  are  enemies." 


XXII 
MASTER    PAUL   AND    MASTER    PETER 

AT  the  dinner-hour  Halfman  came  for  Evan- 
der,  where  he  sat  in  the  library,  and  told  him  that 
Lady  Brilliana  awaited  him.  The  meal  was 
served  in  the  banqueting- hall,  a  splendid,  pan- 
elled room  with  deep- embrasured  windows,  from 
which  the  defences  had  now  been  removed  and 
through  which  the  inmates  could  have  noble 
views  of  the  lawns  and  gardens  beyond  the  moat. 
The  little  company  of  three  seemed,  as  it  were, 
lost  in  the  vastness  of  the  chamber  as  they  sat 
at  meat  together  at  the  oak  table  by  the  hearth 
at  one  end  of  the  room,  Brilliana  at  the  head, 
with  Halfman  at  her  right  and  Evander  at  her 
left  as  the  guest  and  stranger.  It  proved  a 
vastly  pleasant  meal  to  Evander,  for  the  talk 
was  brisk  and  entertaining,  and  there  was  no 
allusion  made  to  those  civil  and  religious  differ- 
ences which  in  distracting  the  country  had  their 
curious  effect,  so  unimportant  to  the  country, 
so  important  to  themselves,  of  bringing  that 
oddly  assorted  trio  together.  Brilliana  gave  a 

203 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

gracious  equality  of  attention  to  her  compan- 
ions; showed  no  keener  interest  in  her  new 
visitor  than  she  had  found  in  the  conversation 
of  her  old  acquaintance,  and  thus  made  both 
men  very  happily  at  their  ease.  Indeed,  Half- 
man  was  at  his  best  that  afternoon,  playing  the 
genial,  ripe,  mellow  man  of  the  world  to  per- 
fection, so  that  Evander  found  him  a  most  en- 
tertaining board-fellow. 

They  were  at  the  fruit,  and  Halfman  showing 
them  tricks  of  carving  faces  in  October  apples, 
when  Tiffany  skipped  into  the  room  a-twitter 
with  excitement. 

"My  lady,"  she  cried,  "here  is  come  Master 
Paul  and  two  of  our  people  bearing  a  great  box. 
And  I  can  spy  Master  Peter  and  his  party  with 
another  at  the  turn  of  the  road." 

Halfman  laughed  loudly;  Brilliana  laughed 
softly;  Evander  wondered  what  there  was  to 
laugh  at. 

"Lodge  them  apart  and  bring  them  in  by 
turn,"  Brilliana  gave  order.  "Master  Paul 
first  and  then  Master  Peter.  This  is  rare. 
Bring  them  in,  bring  them  in." 

Tiffany  fluttered  out  and  Evander  rose  from 
his  chair. 

"Shall  I  leave  you,  lady?"  he  asked,  thinking 
that  she  would  be  private.  But  Brilliana  would 

204 


MASTER   PAUL   AND    MASTER   PETER 

not  hear  of  this  and  motioned  to  him  to  keep 
his  seat. 

"Nay,  sir,  stay,"  she  said,  "if  you  would  see 
some  sport." 

Even  as  she  spoke  Tiffany  returned,  ushering 
in  Master  Hungerford,  followed  by  two  men  in 
Brilliana's  livery,  bearing  with  pains  a  chest 
which  they  set  down  with  a  deep  breath  of  relief. 
Tiffany,  who  was  now  in  the  secret,  pretended 
to  be  busy  at  a  sideboard  so  as  to  stay  in  the 
room.  Master  Paul  rubbed  his  lean  fingers  to- 
gether and  scraped  to  the  company. 

'You  have  been  swift,  Master  Hungerford," 
Brilliana  said,  approvingly.  Master  Hunger- 
ford  smiled  furtively. 

"Who  would  not  use  despatch  in  the  King's 
cause  and  yours.  'Tis  as  I  said:  the  pestilent 
Roundhead  had  a  chest  full  of  broad -pieces 
stuffed  under  his  bed.  And  here  it  now  is  at 
your  feet."  And  he  pointed  victoriously  at 
the  spoils  of  war.  Brilliana  applauded  as  if  she 
had  been  at  the  play. 

"You  have  done  well,"  .she  said,  with  the 
tears  in  her  eyes  for  laughter.  Halfman  kept 
a  grave  face  and  Evander  wondered. 

"Call  me  your  knight,"  Master  Paul  pleaded, 
with  a  languishing  look. 

"You  have  done  well,  my  knight,"  Brilliana 

205 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY   HOUSE 

repeated;  then,  turning  to  Tiffany,  she  bade  her 
see  that  the  chest  was  set  in  a  place  of  safety. 
The  two  men  took  up  their  burden  again  and 
followed  Tiffany  out  of  the  room.  But  in  a 
jiffy  the  maid  was  back  again  and  whispering 
in  her  mistress's  ear. 

Brilliana  turned  her  amused  gaze  upon  Mas- 
ter Paul. 

"Master  Hungerford,"  she  entreated,  "will 
you  be  so  good  as  to  wait  awhile  in  the  next 
chamber.  I  have  some  immediate  business  to 
deal  with,  but  I  would  be  loath  to  part  company 
with  you  so  soon  if  you  have  the  leisure  to  wait." 

Master  Hungerford,  protesting  his  readiness 
to  attend  upon  her  pleasure,  was  promptly  ush- 
ered by  Half  man  into  an  adjoining  room,  where 
he  left  him,  and  having  closely  shut  the  door, 
came  back  shaking  with  suppressed  laughter  to 
Brilliana.  Evander,  looking  from  the  mirthful 
man  to  the  mirthful  maid,  felt  constrained  to 
question. 

"Why  are  you  so  merry?" 

"You  will  know  ere  the  sun  is  much  older," 
Brilliana  answered,  composing  her  countenance, 
"for  here  comes  the  other." 

As  she  spoke  Tiffany  returned,  ushering  in 
Master  Peter  Rainham  and  a  fresh  brace  of 
Brilliana's  servants,  staggering,  like  their  pred- 

206 


MASTER    PAUL    AND    MASTER   PETER 

ecessors,  under  the  weight  of  a  great  chest. 
The  certainty  that  some  astonishing  jest  was 
towards  set  Evander  on  the  alert  as  he  scru- 
tinized the  forbidding  form  and  features  of  the 
new-comer. 

"Welcome,  thrice  welcome,  Master  Peter 
Rainham,"  cried  Brilliana.  :'You  have  made 
good  speed." 

Master  Peter  proffered  her  an  uncouth  salu- 
tation and  pointed  to  the  chest  on  the  floor  sig- 
nificantly. 

"Lady,"  he  said,  "I  have  done  the  King  a 
good  turn.  There  are  gold  plates  there,  gold 
dishes,  gold  ewers,  that  will  change  in  the  melt- 
ing-pot to  many  a  troop  of  horse  for  the  King's 
cause." 

"I  thank  you  with  all  my  heart,"  Brilliana 
said,  quietly. 

Master  Peter  leered  cunningly  at  her,  and 
earned  the  cordial  dislike  of  Evander. 

"  Do  you  give  me  your  heart  with  your 
thanks?"  he  asked,  with  what  he  believed  to  be 
gallantry. 

Brilliana  made  a  little  fanning  motion  at  him 
with  her  hand. 

"You  are  too  hot,"  she  said.  Then  ordered 
Tiffany,  "  See  these  treasures  despatched  to  the 
King  under  guard." 

207 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

As  before,  the  serving-men  took  up  the  chest, 
which  seemed  even  heavier  than  the  former 
box,  and  were  convoyed  by  Tiffany  out  of  the 
room.  Then  Brilliana  turned  to  Master  Peter, 
who  stood  apart  biting  his  nails  awkwardly. 

"Master  Rainham,"  she  said,  "you  have 
shown  rare  discretion  and  made  brave  despatch. 
I  would  thank  you  at  greater  length  were  it  not 
that  I  have  company.  There  is  one  in  the  next 
room  who  waits  to  see  me.  Entreat  the  gen- 
tleman to  enter,  Captain  Halfman." 

Halfman  went  to  the  nigh  door,  and,  opening 
it,  summoned  with  beckoning  finger  its  tenant 
to  come  forth.  Master  Hungerford  emerged 
radiant.  For  a  moment  neither  squire  saw.  the 
other.  Then  Master  Rainham,  looking  away 
from  Brilliana,  saw  Master  Hungerford;  and 
Master  Hungerford,  looking  away  from  Half- 
man, saw  Master  Rainham. 

To  those  who  watched  the  comedy  the  silence 
was  intense,  and  throbbing  with  possibilities  as 
summer  air  throbs  with  heat.  Brilliana  heard 
Master  Rainham  say,  "What  a  devil,  Master 
Hungerford,"  and  Halfman,  for  his  part,  averred 
later  that  Master  Hungerford,  too,  greeted  his 
neighbor's  presence  with  an  oath.  The  spec- 
tators wondered  what  would  happen:  it  was 
plain  as  noon  that  each  squire  for  an  instant 

208 


MASTER   PAUL   AND    MASTER   PETER 

believed  that  the  other  had  discovered  larceny 
and  had  posted  to  avenge  it.  But  while  each 
man  knew  of  his  own  guilt  neither  could  guess 
or  did  guess  at  the  other's  theft,  and  neither 
reading  anger  in  the  other's  visage,  each  con- 
cluded that  the  meeting  was  a  piece  of  chance, 
and  each  resolved  to  make  the  best  of  it,  laugh- 
ing heartily  in  his  sleeve  at  the  other's  catas- 
trophe. So  "Good-morrow,  neighbor,"  nodded 
Master  Paul,  and  "Good-day,  good-day,"  re- 
sponded Master  Peter,  and  Brilliana  thought 
her  bodice  would  burst  with  her  effort  to  keep 
her  appreciation  a  prisoner. 

"  Why,  sirs,"  she  cried,  "  this  is  a  good  seeing, 
a  pair  of  neighbors  under  my  roof." 

"What  does  this  fellow  here?"  Master  Paul 
asked  behind  his  hand  of  Half  man,  who  an- 
swered, very  coolly, 

"He  comes  to  pay  court  to  our  lady." 

At  the  same  moment,  beneath  his  breath, 
Master  Peter  was  questioning  Brilliana,  "Why 
is  that  disloyal  rogue  here?"  Brilliana  an- 
swered, with  a  pretty  toss  of  the  head: 

"Would  you  ever  believe  it?  He  came  to 
assure  me  of  his  devotion  to  me  and  his  zeal  for 
his  Majesty." 

Master  Peter,  in  wrath,  looked  more  porcine 
than  ever. 

209 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"The  lying  knave,"  he  grunted.  "What  are 
his  words  to  my  deeds?" 

"What,  indeed,"  answered  Brilliana,  de- 
murely. "I  pray  you  persuade  him  hence." 

"So  that  I  may  return  alone?" 

Thus  Master  Peter  interpreted  Brilliana,  and 
the  minx  gave  him  a  glance  which  might  well 
be  taken  as  justifying  his  interpretation.  At 
this  moment  Master  Paul  broke  in  upon  their 
colloquy. 

"  A  word  with  you,  I  pray  you,"  he  said,  sour- 
ly, "if  my  good  neighbor  will  give  me  good 
leave." 

Master  Rainham  withdrew  a  little  way  his 
self-satisfaction  and  himself,  while  Master  Paul 
whispered  to  Brilliana: 

"  You  know  me  now :  I  am  proved  your  friend. 
Prithee  get  rid  of  that  mean  huckster." 

Brilliana  desired  nothing  better.  She  gave 
him  the  same  advice  that  she  had  given  his 
neighbor,  and  was  mischievously  delighted  to 
find  that  he  interpreted  it  after  the  same  fashion. 
It  did  her  heart  good  to  see  how  the  two  squires 
approached  each  other  with  many  formal  ex- 
pressions of  good- will,  each  persuading  the  other 
to  depart,  and  each  warmly  proffering  com- 
panionship on  the  homeward  road.  In  the 
end  they  went  off  together  arm  in  arm,  each 

2IO 


MASTER   PAUL   AND    MASTER    PETER 

endeavoring  to  convey  to  Brilliana  by  nods  and 
winks  that  he  proposed  to  return  alone  very 
shortly. 

As  soon  as  they  were  fairly  gone  Brilliana  and 
Halfman  allowed  themselves  to  laugh  like 
school-boy  and  school-girl,  and  then  Brilliana 
commanded  Halfman  to  take  order  that  neither 
gentleman  was  to  be  admitted  again.  When 
he  had  gone  on  this  business  she  turned  to 
Evander. 

"Well,"  she  said,  "have  you  found  the  key 
to  the  riddle?" 

'  You  have  made  these  two  neighbors  plunder 
each  other?"  he  hazarded.  Brilliana  nodded 
gleefully,  and  then,  guessing  at  disapproval  in 
his  gravity,  she  asserted,  defiantly: 

"  It  was  for  the  King's  cause.  Everything  is 
right  for  the  King's  cause." 

At  this  flagrant  enunciation  of  Cavalier  policy 
Evander  could  not  but  smile. 

"How  will  it  end?"  he  asked.  He  was  to 
learn  that  very  soon,  but  first  he  was  to  learn 
other  things  of  greater  import  to  himself. 


IS 


XXIII 
A    DAY    PASSES 

A  DAY  is  twenty-four  hours  if  you  take  it  by 
the  card,  but  the  spirit  of  joy  or  the  spirit  of 
sorrow  has  the  power  to  multiply  its  poten- 
tialities amazingly.  Both  these  spirits  walked 
by  Evander's  side  during  his  second  day  at 
Harby.  The  one  that  went  in  sable  reminded 
him  that  his  horizon  was  dwindling  almost  to 
his  feet ;  the  other,  in  rose  and  gold,  hinted  that 
it  is  better  to  be  emperor  for  a  day  than  beggar 
for  a  century.  And  truly  through  all  that  day 
Evander  esteemed  himself  happier  than  an 
emperor.  For  he  had  discovered  that  Brilliana 
was  the  most  adorable  woman  in  the  world, 
and,  knowing  how  his  span  of  life  was  shrinking, 
he  allowed  himself  to  adore  without  let  or  hin- 
derance  of  hostile  faiths  and  warring  causes. 
He  did  not,  as  another  in  his  desperate  case 
might  have  done,  make  the  most  of  his  time 
by  using  it  for  very  straightforward  love-mak- 
ing. There  was  a  fine  austerity  in  him  that 
denied  such  a  course.  Were  he  an  undoomed 

212 


A   DAY   PASSES 

man  his  creed  and  his  cause  would  forbid  him 
to  philander;  being  a  doomed  man,  it  could  not 
consort  with  his  honor  to  act  differently.  But 
he  was  radiantly  happy  in  her  constant  com- 
panionship, and  the  hours  fled  from  him  iris- 
tinted  as  he  relived  the  age  of  gold. 

But  if  Evander  trod  the  air,  there  was  another 
who  pressed  the  earth  with  leaden  feet  and  car- 
ried a  heart  of  lead.  Half  man  read  Evander's 
happiness  with  hostile  eyes;  he  read,  too,  very 
clearly,  Brilliana's  content  in  Evander's  com- 
pany, and  he  raged  at  it.  He  had  grown  so 
used  to  himself  as  Brilliana's  ally  that  he  had 
come  to  dream  mad  dreams  which  were  none 
the  less  sweet  because  of  their  madness.  He 
had  rehearsed  himself  if  not  as  Romeo  at  least 
as  Othello,  and  if  Brilliana  was  not  in  the  least 
like  Desdemona  that  knowledge  did  not  dash 
him,  for  he  thought  her  much  more  delectable 
than  the  Venetian,  and  he  thanked  his  stars 
that  he  was  not  a  blackamoor.  He  had  not  pushed 
his  thoughts  to  a  precise  formula;  he  had  been 
content  to  delight  during  the  hours  of  siege  in 
the  companionship  of  a  matchless  maid,  and 
now  the  maid  had  found  another  companion, 
and  he  knew  that  he  was  fiercely  in  love  and  as 
foolishly  jealous  as  a  moon-calf.  Brilliana  was  as 
kind  to  him  as  ever,  but  she  gave  her  time  to 

213 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY   HOUSE 

the  new  man,  and  Half  man,  inwardly  bleeding 
and  outwardly  the  magnificent  stoic,  left  the 
pair  to  themselves  and  absented  himself  at 
meal-times  on  pretext  of  pressing  business  with 
the  volunteer  troop.  But  his  temper  grew  as  a 
gale  grows  and  would  soon  prove  a  whirlwind. 

The  garden-room  at  Harby  was  one  of  its 
many  glories.  Its  panelled  walls,  its  portraits 
of  old-time  Harbys,  its  painted  ceiling,  were 
exquisite  parts  of  its  exquisite  harmony.  On 
the  side  towards  the  park  the  wall  was  little 
more  than  a  colonnade — to  which  doors  could 
be  fitted  in  winter-time,  and  here,  as  from  a 
loggia,  the  indweller  could  feast  on  one  of  the 
fairest  prospects  in  Oxfordshire.  Across  the 
moat  the  gardens  stretched,  in  summer-time  a 
riot  of  color,  flowers  glowing  like  jewels  set  in 
green  enamel.  In  the  waning  autumn  the 
scene  was  still  fair,  even  though  the  day  was 
overcast  as  this  day  was,  from  which  the  weath- 
er-wise and  even  the  weather  -  unwise  could 
freely  and  confidently  prophesy  rain.  Brilli- 
ana  dearly  loved  her  garden  -  room  for  many 
things,  most,  perhaps,  because  of  its  full-length 
portrait  of  her  King,  an  honest  copy  from  an 
adorable  Vandyke,  to  which,  as  to  a  shrined 
image,  Brilliana  paid  honest  adoration.  She 
knew  more  about  the  picture  than  any  one  else 

214 


A   DAY   PASSES 

in  Harby,  and  used  sometimes  to  wonder  if  the 
knowledge  would  ever  avail  her.  In  the  mean 
time,  ever  since  the  troubles  began,  she  always 
bent  a  knee  whenever  she  passed  the  portrait. 
She  had  never  seen  her  King,  yet  she  felt  as  if 
she  saw  him  daily,  visible  in  the  living  flesh,  so 
keenly  did  her  loyalty  seem  to  quicken  color  and 
canvas.  Brilliana  was  not  the  only  soul  in 
England  whose  loyalty  gave  the  King  a  kind  of 
godhead,  but  if  she  had  many  peers  she  had 
none,  nor  could  have,  who  overpassed  her. 

On  the  morning  of  the  third  day  of  Evander's 
stay  at  Harby,  Halfman  sat  on  the  edge  of  the 
table  in  the  gar  den -room  and  stared  through 
the  open  doorway  into  the  green  beyond.  He 
was  alone,  and  he  had  flung  off  the  stoic  robe  and 
was  very  frankly  an  angry  man  and  very  frankly 
a  dangerous  man.  What  he  saw  in  the  garden 
maddened  him;  his  eyes  glittered  like  a  cat's 
that  stalks  its  prey.  He  had  no  room  in  his 
thoughts  for  the  cottage  of  his  earlier  dreams, 
with  its  pleasant  garden  and  its  lazy  hours  over 
ale  and  tobacco.  He  thought  only  of  a  woman 
quite  beyond  his  reach,  and  his  heart  lusted  for 
the  lawless  days  when  your  lucky  buccaneer 
might  take  his  pick  of  a  score  of  women  by 
right  of  fire  and  sword  and  tame  his  choice  as 
he  pleased. 

215 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

To  this  mood  fortune  sent  interruption  in  the 
person  of  Sir  Blaise  Mickleton.  Sir  Blaise  had 
opened  the  door  expecting  to  find  in  the  room 
Brilliana,  whom  he  had  come  with  a  purpose  to 
visit,  and  instead  of  Brilliana  he  found  this 
queer  soldier  swinging  his  legs  from  the  table 
and  scowling  truculently.  From  what  Sir  Blaise 
had  already  seen  of  Halfman  he  found  him  very 
little  to  his  mind,  but  he  reflected  that  he  had 
come  on  a  mission,  that  Brilliana  was  nowhere 
in  sight,  and  that  Halfman,  who  had  served  her 
during  the  siege,  might  very  well  direct  him 
where  he  should  find  her. 

As  Halfman  took  no  notice  whatever  of  him, 
Sir  Blaise  deemed  it  advisable,  in  the  interests 
of  his  mission,  to  attract  his  attention.  So  he 
gave  a  politic  cough  and  followed  it  with  a 
"Give  you  good -morrow"  of  such  sufficient 
loudness  that  Halfman  could  not  choose  but 
hear  it.  He  did  not  change  his  attitude,  how- 
ever, or  turn  his  face  from  the  window,  as  he 
answered,  in  a  sullen  voice, 

"  I  should  need  a  good-morrow  to  mend  a 
bad  day." 

Sir  Blaise  had  not  the  wit  to  let  a  sleeping 
dog  lie,  but  must  needs  prod  it  to  see  if  it  could 
bark.  So  he  very  foolishly  said  what  were  in- 
deed obvious  even  to  a  greater  fool  than  he. 

216 


A   DAY   PASSES 

"You  seem  in  the  sullens." 

The  sleeping  dog  could  bark.  Halfman  turn- 
ed a  scowling  face  upon  the  knight  as  he  an- 
swered, malevolently: 

"  Swamped,  water-logged,  foundering.  You 
are  a  pretty  parrakeet  to  come  between  me  and 
my  musings." 

The  tone  of  Half  man's  speech,  the  way  of 
Half  man's  demeanor  were  so  offensive  that  the 
knight's  cheap  dignity  took  fire.  He  swelled 
with  displeasure,  flushed  very  red  in  the  gills, 
and  cleared  his  throat  for  reproof. 

"  Master  Majordomo,  you  forget  yourself." 

Halfman  proved  too  indifferent  or  too  self- 
absorbed  to  take  umbrage.  He  stared  into  the 
garden  again  with  a  sigh. 

"No,  I  remember  myself,  and  the  memory 
vexes  me.  I  dreamed  I  was  a  king,  a  kaiser,  a 
demigod.  I  wake,  rub  my  eyes,  and  am  no 
more  than  a  fool." 

Sir  Blaise  was  patronizingly  forgiving.  He 
was  thirsty,  also  the  morning  was  chilly. 

"Let  us  exorcise  your  devil  with  a  pottle  of 
hot  ale,"  he  suggested.  Halfman  shook  his 
head  wistfully. 

"  I  should  be  happier  in  a  sable  habit,  with 
a  steeple  hat,  and  a  rank  in  the  Parliament 
army." 

217 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

It  was  plain  to  Sir  Blaise  that  a  man  must 
be  very  deep  in  the  dumps  who  was  not  to  be 
tempted  by  hot  ale. 

"  Lordamercy,  are  you  for  changing  sides 
now?"  he  asked. 

As  Halfman  made  him  no  answer  but  contin- 
ued to  stare  gloomily  into  the  garden,  Blaise 
concluded  that  the  interest  lay  there  which 
made  him  thus  distracted.  So  he  came  down 
to  the  table  and  looked  over  Halfman's  shoul- 
der. In  the  distance  he  saw  a  man  and  woman 
walking  among  the  trees.  The  man  was  pat- 
ently the  Puritan  prisoner,  the  woman  was  the 
chatelaine  of  Harby.  The  pair  seemed  very 
deep  in  converse.  As  Sir  Blaise  looked,  they 
were  out  of  sight  round  a  turning.  Halfman 
gave  a  heavy  groan  and  spoke,  more  to  himself, 
as  it  seemed,  than  to  his  companion. 

"  Look  how  they  walk  in  the  garden,  ever  in 
talk.  Time  was  she  would  walk  and  talk  with 
me,  listen  to  my  wars  and  wanderings,  and  call 
me  a  gallant  captain." 

"Are  you  jealous  of  the  Puritan  prisoner?" 
Blaise  asked,  astonished.  Halfman  answered 
with  an  oath. 

"Oh,  God,  that  the  siege  had  lasted  forever, 
or  that  she  had  kept  her  word  and  blown  us 
sky  high." 

218 


A    DAY   PASSES 

Blaise  began  to  snigger. 

"  Ods-life !  do  you  dare  a  love  for  your  lady  ?" 
he  said.  He  had  better  not  have  said  it.  Half- 
man  turned  on  him  with  a  face  like  a  demon's 
and  the  plump  knight  recoiled. 

"Why  the  red  devil  should  I  not,"  Halfman 
asked,  hoarsely,  "  if  a  bumpkin  squire  like  you 
may  do  as  much?" 

Blaise  tried  to  domineer,  but  the  effort  was 
feeble  before  the  fierceness  in  Half  man's  glare. 

"Are  you  speaking  to  me,  your  superior?" 
he  stammered.  Halfman  answered  him  mock- 
ingly, with  a  voice  that  swelled  in  menace  as  the 
taunting  speech  ran  on. 

"Will  you  ride  against  me,  cross  swords  with 
me,  come  to  grips  with  me  any  way?  You 
dare  not.  I  am  well  born,  have  seen  things, 
done  things  'twould  make  you  shiver  to  hear  of 
them.  Come,  I  am  in  a  fiend's  humor;  come 
with  your  sword  to  the  orchard  and  see  which 
of  us  is  the  better  man." 

Sir  Blaise  was  in  a  fair  panic  at  this  raging 
fury  he  had  conjured  up  and  now  was  fain  to 
pacify. 

"Soft,  soft,  honest  captain;  why  so  choleric? 
I  would  not  wrong  you.  But  surely  you  do  not 
think  she  favors  this  Puritan?" 

"Oh,  he's  a  proper  man,  damn  him!"  Half- 

219 


THE   LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

man  admitted.  "  He  has  a  right  to  a  woman's 
liking.  And  he  must  love  her,  God  help  him! 
as  every  man  does  that  looks  on  her." 

Blaise  looked  pathetic. 

"What  is  there  to  do?"  he  asked,  helplessly. 
Halfman  struck  his  right  fist  into  his  left 
palm. 

"  I  would  do  something,  I  promise  you.  He 
is  no  immortal.  But  we  shall  be  rid  of  him 
soon.  If  Colonel  Cromwell  do  not  surrender 
Cousin  Randolph  we  are  pledged  to  his  killing, 
and  if  he  do,  then  our  friend  rejoins  his  army; 
and  I  pray  the  devil  my  master  that  I  may  have 
the  joy  to  pistol  him  on  some  stricken  field." 

Sir  Blaise  thought  it  was  time  to  change  the 
conversation. 

"Let  us  leave  these  ravings  and  vaporings," 
he  entreated,  wheedling,  "  and  return  to  the  busi- 
ness of  life.  And  'tis  a  very  unpleasant  business 
I  come  on." 

Halfman  drew  his  hand  across  his  forehead  as 
a  man  who  seeks  to  dissipate  ill  dreams.  Then, 
with  a  tranquil  face,  he  gave  Blaise  the  atten- 
tion he  petitioned. 

"How  so?"  he  asked.  Any  business  were  a 
pleasing  change  from  his  sick  thoughts. 

"  Why,  I  am  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  these 
parts,"  Sir  Blaise  said,  "and  I  am  importuned 

220 


A   DAY    PASSES 

by  two  honest  neighbors  to  process  of  law 
against  your  lady." 

Half  man  laughed  unpleasantly. 

"The  Lady  Brilliana's  wish  is  the  law  of  this 
country-side,  I  promise  you." 

He  grinned  maliciously  and  fingered  at  his 
sword-hilt.  Sir  Blaise  felt  exceedingly  uncom- 
fortable. Here  was  no  promising  beginning  for 
a  solemn  judicial  errand.  But  the  knight  had  a 
mighty  high  sense  of  his  own  importance,  and  he 
felt  himself  shielded,  as  it  were,  from  the  tem- 
pers of  this  fire-eater  by  the  dignity  of  his  office 
and  the  majesty  of  the  law.  So  he  came  to  his 
business  with  a  manner  as  pompous  as  he  could 
muster. 

"  Master  Rainham  and  Master  Hungerford 
are  exceedingly  angry,"  he  asserted. 

Halfman  flouted  him  and  his  clients. 

"  Because  she  bobbed  them  so  bravely  ?  The 
knaves  came  raving  to  our  gates  when  they 
found  how  they  had  been  tricked  into  picking 
each  other's  pockets.  But  I  made  them  take 
to  their  heels,  I  promise  you.  You  should  have 
seen  their  fool  faces  at  the  sight  of  a  musket's 
muzzle." 

Sir  Blaise  looked  righteously  indignant. 

"Sir,  sir,"  he  protested,  "muskets  will  not 
mend  matters  if  these  gentlemen  have  been 

221 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY   HOUSE 

wronged.  They  came  hot-foot  to  me,  and  in 
the  interests  of  peace  I  have  entreated  them 
hither.  They  wait  without  in  the  care  of  two 
of  your  people  to  keep  them  from  flying  at  each 
other's  throats." 

Halfman  heard  the  distressing  news  with 
equanimity. 

"Why  not  let  them  kill  each  other?"  he  sug- 
gested, blandly.  Blaise  lifted  his  hands  in 
horror. 

"Friend,"  he  said,  "in  this  mission  I  am  a 
man  of  peace.  Will  you  acquaint  your  lady?" 

Halfman  grunted  acquiescence. 

"Oh,  ay;  bring  in  your  boobies." 

He  turned  on  his  heel  and  swung  out  through 
the  doorway  into  the  garden. 

Sir  Blaise  looked  after  him  for  a  moment 
disapprovingly,  then  he  went  to  the  door  by 
which  he  had  entered,  and,  opening  it,  called 
aloud, 

"This  way,  gentlemen,  this  way." 


XXIV 
A   HIGH   COURT    OF  JUSTICE 

THERE  was  a  loud,  scuffling  noise  without,  as 
of  the  trampling  of  many  feet  and  the  inarticu- 
late growlings  of  wild  beasts.  Then  Clupp  en- 
tered the  room,  clasping  in  his  mighty  arms  the 
long  body  of  Master  Paul  Hungerford.  He  was 
followed  by  Garlinge,  who  was  performing  the 
like  embracive  office  for  the  short  body  of  Mas- 
ter Peter  Rainham.  The  two  angry  gentle- 
men plunged  and  struggled  impotently  to  free 
themselves  from  their  guardians  and  hurl  them- 
selves at  each  other's  throats.  They  might  as 
well  have  tried  to  free  themselves  from  clamps 
of  iron.  To  the  master-muscled  Garlinge  and 
Clupp — a  strong  Gyas,  a  strong  Cloanthes,  no 
less — they  were  no  more  difficult  to  restrain 
than  would  have  been  a  brace  of  puling  babes. 
Even  their  speech  was  not  free  to  make  amends 
for  their  captivity,  for  they  were  so  brimful  of 
choler  and  had  so  roared  and  shrieked  their 
rage  ere  this  that  the  torrent  of  their  fury 
spent  itself  in  vacant  mouthings  and  splutter- 

223 


THE   LADY   OF   LOYALTY   HOUSE 

ings.  Sir  Blaise  eyed  the  brawlers  with  ex- 
ceeding disfavor. 

"Gentlemen,  gentlemen,"  he  entreated,  "be 
calm,  I  beg  of  you." 

At  the  sound  of  his  voice  the  disputants  found 
theirs,  or  rather  found  themselves  restored  to 
command  over  human  speech.  Each  turned 
towards  Sir  Blaise,  swaying  over  the  clasped 
arms  of  his  captor. 

"Sir  Blaise,"  screamed  Master  Paul,  "in  the 
King's  name  I  call  upon  you  to  commit  this 
thief  to  jail." 

"Set  that  footpad  in  the  pillory,  Sir  Blaise," 
yelled  Master  Peter.  Then  they  turned  upon 
each  other  again. 

"You  rogue,"  cried  Master  Paul. 

"You  rascal,"  answered  Master  Peter. 

In  a  second  they  were  again  struggling  to  get 
at  each  other,  and  were,  as  before,  imperturb- 
ably  held  asunder  by  Garlinge  and  Clupp. 

Again  Sir  Blaise  protested. 

"Good  friends,  be  calm,  I  entreat  you." 

"I'll  cut  his  heart  out,"  Peter  vociferated, 
stabbing  a  dirty  hand  in  the  direction  of  his 
enemy. 

"I'll  make  him  mincemeat,"  Paul  promised, 
sawing  at  the  air. 

Sir  Blaise,  turning  away  in  disgust,  saw  how 
224 


A  HIGH    COURT   OF   JUSTICE 

in  the  garden  Brilliana  was  making  for  the 
house.  He  frowned  on  the  malcontents. 

"  Hush,  here  comes  the  lady." 

Even  as  he  spoke  Brilliana  entered  from  the 
garden,  followed  by  Evander  and  Half  man. 
The  girl  looked  as  bright  as  sunlight  as  she 
greeted  the  company. 

"  Good  -morning,  Sir  Blaise;  good  -  morning, 
my  masters." 

Then  she  burst  out  laughing  at  the  furious 
faces  and  helpless  gesticulations  of  the  irate 
claimants.  Her  laughter  was  very  delightful 
for  most  men  to  hear,  but  it  goaded  the  squires 
to  frenzy. 

"Sir  Blaise,"  cried  Master  Paul,  "I  call  you 
to  witness  that  the  lady  laughs  at  us." 

"  Sir  Blaise,"  cried  Master  Peter, "  there  stands 
our  undoing."  Brilliana  frowned  a  little  and 
turned  to  Half  man. 

"Friend,"  she  said,  "will  you  see  order 
here." 

"Very  blithely,"  Half  man  answered.  He 
commanded  the  servants. 

"You,  Garlinge  and  Clupp,  see  that  your 
prisoners  keep  silence." 

Master  Paul  and  Master  Peter  began  to  pro- 
test in  chorus. 

"We  are  no  prison — "  But  they  got  no 

225 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

further,  for  Garlinge  and  Clupp  silenced  them 
by  clapping  huge  hands  over  their  gaping 
mouths.  Brilliana  gave  a  little  sigh  of  relief  at 
the  welcome  quiet. 

"Now,  Sir  Blaise,"  she  asked,  "why  are 
these  gentlemen  here?" 

Sir  Blaise  made  salutation  and  answered, 
"Truly,  most  paradisiacal  lady,  these  gentle- 
men make  grave  allegations  that  you  did  in- 
sidiously incite  them  to  the  commission  of  a 
felony." 

Brilliana  looked  from  Sir  Blaise  to  the 
muffled,  grappled  plaintiffs  and  made  mirthful 
decision. 

"  I  represent  the  King  here.  I  will  try  this 
matter." 

Blaise  felt  bound  to  lodge  protest  against  this 
monstrous  proposition. 

"  Perhaps,  most  Elysian  of  fair  ladies,  it 
would  be,  as  one  might  say,  more  seemly  if  I, 
as  a  justice  of  the  peace— 

Brilliana  daffed  him  down. 

"  Sir  Blaise,  we  are  at  war  now,  and  by  your 
leave  I  will  handle  this  matter  after  my  own 
fashion." 

"  I  must  protest,"  Blaise  bleated,  but  Brilliana 
would  not  listen  to  him. 

"You  must  do  nothing,"  she  insisted,  "but 
226 


A   HIGH    COURT    OF  JUSTICE 

help  me  to  set  chairs.  One  here  for  me,  one 
there  for  you,  my  brother  justice;  one  there  for 
Captain  Cloud,  who,  as  a  stranger  of  distinction, 
shall  have  a  seat  on  the  bench." 

"I  thank  you  for  the  honor,"  said  Evander, 
watching  the  scene  with  much  entertainment. 
As  Brilliana  talked  she,  with  Blaise  and  Half- 
man,  had  been  busy  placing  seats  as  she 
directed  at  the  table. 

"Captain  Halfman,"  Brilliana  went  on,  "you 
write  a  clerkly  hand.  Sit  you  here;  you  shall 
be  our  clerk.  Arraign  the  prisoners." 

By  this  time  all  were  seated  as  Brilliana  had 
disposed;  Sir  Blaise  had  completely  surrendered 
his  dignity  to  her  spell.  Even  Halfman  found 
pleasure  in  the  grotesque  sham  trial. 

Garlinge  and  Clupp  brought  their  charges 
down  to  face  the  newly  formed  tribunal. 
Halfman  spoke. 

"  Here,  my  lady,  we  have  two  hobs  who  have 
come  to  loggerheads  as  to  which  is  best  dis- 
posed to  the  King.  Garlinge,  let  Master  Hun- 
gerford  speak."  Garlinge  removed  his  massive 
hand  from  his  prisoner's  mouth,  and  Paul,  after 
gaping  like  a  fish  for  some  seconds,  gasped 
out, 

"  Lady,  you  know  well  enough  how  you  have 
befooled  us." 

16  227 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

Brilliana  stared  upon  him,  bewitchingly  un- 
embarrassed by  the  charge. 

"Manners,  master,"  cried  Halfman,  angrily, 
"or  I'll  manner  you." 

Brilliana  daintily  deprecated  his  heat. 

"Wait,  wait,"  she  said.  "First  of  all,  are 
you  a  loyal  subject  of  the  King?" 

Master  Paul  rubbed  his  chin  dubiously. 
"That  is  as  it  may  be,"  he  muttered. 

Brilliana  tapped  the  table.  "  Faint  hesita- 
tion is  flat  treason,"  she  cried.  Turning  to 
Halfman,  she  commanded,  "Write  him  down 
for  a  confessed  Roundhead." 

Master  Paul  clawed  towards  her  excitedly. 

"  No,  no ;  pray  you  not  so  fast,"  he  entreated. 
"I  am  a  good  King's  man." 

Brilliana  condescended  approval. 

"He  amends  his  plea,"  she  noted  to  Half- 
man. Master  Paul  went  on,  fractiously, 

"  But  that  does  not  make  me  love  to  be 
plundered." 

Brilliana  rose  and,  resting  the  tips  of  her 
fingers  on  the  table,  addressed  Master  Hunger- 
ford  sternly. 

"  Master  Hungerford,  one  of  two  things. 
Either  you  are  a  Roundhead,  in  which  case  you 
have  no  rights  in  loyal,  royal  Oxfordshire — say 
I  not  well,  Sir  Blaise?" 

228 


A  HIGH    COURT    OF  JUSTICE 

"  Marvellous  well,"  Sir  Blaise  assented. 

"Ergo,"  Brilliana  continued,  "having  no 
rights  you  have  no  goods,  having  no  goods  you 
cannot  be  plundered." 

:'Yet  I  was  plundered,"  Master  Paul  pro- 
tested. Brilliana  exorcised  the  plea. 

"We  shall  convince  you  to  the  contrary. 
If  you  are  no  Roundhead  then  you  are  a 
stanch  Cavalier,  and  in  the  King's  name  you 
confiscated  certain  gear  of  your  fellow -pris- 
oner. ' ' 

Now,  while  Paul  was  being  interrogated  Clupp 
had  removed  his  hand  from  Master  Peter's 
mouth  and  contented  himself  with  holding  him 
fast.  Master  Peter  now  saw  an  opportunity 
to  assert  himself. 

"  I  am  not  a  prison—  '  he  began,  but  was  not 
suffered  to  speak  further.  Instantly  Clupp's 
palm  closed  again  upon  the  parted  jaws  and  re- 
duced him  to  silence  once  more,  while  Brilliana 
went  on. 

"  In  doing  which  you  deserved  well  of  his 
Majesty." 

"Ay,  all  was  well  so  far,"  Master  Paul 
grumbled;  "but  he  played  the  like  trick  upon 
me  at  your  instigation." 

Brilliana  would  not  hear  of  it. 

"You  misuse  speech.  Tis  no  trick  to  serve 

229 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

the  King.  As  I  understand,  each  of  you  accuses 
the  other  of  robbing  him." 

Master  Paul  agreed.  Master  Peter,  gagged 
behind  Clupp's  hand,  nodded  dismally.  Brill- 
iana  went  on. 

"  This  is  at  first  blush  a  dilemma,  but  our  wit 
makes  all  clear.  Each  of  you,  avowedly  in  the 
King's  name,  did  descend  upon  the  dwelling  of  a 
disaffected  rebel  and  make  certain  seizures  there 
which  have  been  duly  sent  to  his  Majesty.  Each 
of  you  is,  therefore,  proved  to  be  a  loyal  subject 
and  honorable  gentleman.  So  far  you  are  with 
me,  Sir  Blaise?" 

"  Surely,  surely,"  the  knight  agreed. 

"  Yet,  on  the  other  hand,"  continued  Brilliana, 
"  each  of  you  accuses  the  other  of  robbing  him. 
Now  to  rob  is  to  offend  against  the  King's  law, 
to  be,  therefore,  an  enemy  to  the  King;  and  an 
enemy  to  the  King  is  a  Roundhead.  Is  not 
this  well  argued,  Sir  Blaise?" 

"Socrates  could  not  have  bettered  it,"  com- 
mended Sir  Blaise. 

"We  arrive,  therefore,  at  the  strange  con- 
clusion," said  Brilliana,  judicially,  "that  each 
of  you  is  at  the  same  time  an  honest  Cavalier 
and  a  dishonest  Roundhead.  Now,  as  no  man 
living  can  be  in  the  same  breath  Cavalier  and 
Roundhead,  it  follows  as  plainly  as  B  follows  A 

230 


A  HIGH    COURT   OF  JUSTICE 

that  whichever  one  of  you  complains  of  the 
other  is  avowedly  the  King's  enemy  and  a 
palpable  rebel." 

Master  Paul  scratched  his  head. 

"  I  do  not  follow  your  reasoning, ' '  he  mumbled. 
Brilliana  appealed  to  the  justice  of  the  peace. 

'  Yet  it  is  very  clear.     Is  it  not,  Sir  Blaise?" 

"Limpidity  itself,"  Sir  Blaise  approved,  com- 
placently. Brilliana  resumed. 

"  One  or  other  of  you  is  a  traitor  and  shall 
be  sent  to  Oxford  in  chains,  to  await  the  King's 
pleasure  and  his  own  pain.  I  care  not  which  it 
be." 

"You  have  set  me  in  such  a  quandary,"  Mas- 
ter Paul  protested,  "my  head  buzzes  like  a 
hive." 

Brilliana  directly  questioned  him. 

;<You,  Master  Hungerford,  are  you  a  King's 
man?" 

Master  Paul  was  vehement  in  asseveration. 

"  I  am  a  King's  man,  hook  and  eye." 

"  Then,"  Brilliana  assumed,  "'tis  Master  Rain- 
ham  must  fare  in  chains  to  Oxford." 

Master  Rainham,  staring  at  her  over  Clupp's 
paw,  had  such  appealing  terror  in  his  eyes  that 
Brilliana  pitied  him. 

"  Tis  your  turn  now,"  she  said.  "Let  him 
give  tongue,  Clupp." 

231 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

Clupp  withdrew  his  hand  and  Master  Rain- 
ham  gurgled: 

"  I  proclaim  myself  a  faithful  subject  of  the 
King.  Let  that  dog  trot  to  Oxford." 

"You  matchless  basilisk!"  screamed  Master 
Paul  at  him,  and  "You  damnable  mandrake!" 
retorted  Master  Peter.  The  pair  would  have 
flown  at  each  other  if  they  could  have  wriggled 
free.  But  as  they  could  not  they  perforce  re- 
signed themselves  to  hear  what  Brilliana  would 
say  next. 

"Why,  then,  it  stands  thus,"  Brilliana  sum- 
med up.  "This  court  decides  that  you  are 
both  servants  of  the  King;  that  you  have 
both  done  the  King  good  service,  willing  and 
yet  unwilling.  I  think  I  shall  have  some 
little  credit  with  the  King,  and  I  shall  use 
it  with  his  Majesty  by  entreating  him  to 
grant  the  grace  of  knighthood  to  two  hon- 
est friends  of  mine  and  two  honest  lovers 
of  his  —  Master  Hungerford  and  Master  Rain- 
ham." 

Master  Paul  looked  at  Master  Peter;  Master 
Peter  looked  at  Master  Paul.  Master  Paul 
smiled.  Master  Peter  smiled. 

"A  knighthood!" 

Master  Peter  mumbled  the  word  lovingly. 
Master  Paul  blew  a  kiss  towards  Brilliana. 

232 


A   HIGH    COURT    OF  JUSTICE 

"Then  I  shall  be  indeed  your  knight,"  he 
simpered. 

"Are  you  content?"  Brilliana  asked,  gravely, 
and  the  two  squires  answered  in  union, 

"We  are  content." 

"Then  this  worshipful  court  adjourns  sine 
die.  Captain  Half  man,  see  that  our  friends  be 
refreshed  ere  they  depart." 

Half  man  rose,  and  with  a  "  Follow  me,  sirs," 
made  for  the  door.  Sir  Blaise  stooped  over 
Brilliana's  finger-tips. 

"Farewell,  my  lady  wisdom.  Solomon  was 
not  more  wise  nor  Minos  more  sapient." 

"I  thought  you  would  uphold  me,"  Brilliana 
replied.  ' '  Farewell . ' ' 

Sir  Blaise  saluted  Evander,  who  returned  the 
salutation  and  quitted  the  room.  Master  Paul, 
taking  leave  of  Brilliana,  whispered, 

"When  I  am  knight,  you  shall  be  my  lady." 

"When  you  are  king,  diddle-diddle,  I  shall 
be  queen,"  Brilliana  laughed  at  him,  making 
a  reverence.  He  joined  Half  man  at  the  door 
and  Master  Peter  approached  Brilliana. 

"  When  I  wear  my  new  title,  I  will  lay  it  at 
your  feet,"  he  promised,  solemnly. 

"Can  you  not  keep  it  in  your  own  hands?" 
Brilliana  questioned.  She  made  him  a  rever- 
ence, he  made  her  his  best  bow  and  went  to 

233 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

the  door,  where  Master  Paul  waited  with  Half- 
man.  Here  a  point  of  ceremony  arose. 

"After  you,  Sir  Peter,"  Master  Paul  suggest- 
ed. Master  Peter  fondled  the  title. 

"Sir  Peter!  It  sounds  nobly.  Nay,  after 
you,  Sir  Paul,"  he  protested.  They  were  at 
this  business  so  long  that  Halfman  lost  pa- 
tience. 

"Stand  not  on  the  order  of  your  going,"  he 
growled  between  his  teeth,  then  grasping  with 
an  air  of  bluff  good-fellowship  an  arm  of  either 
squire,  he  banged  them  somewhat  roughly  to- 
gether. 

"  Nay,  arm  in  arm,  as  neighbor  knights 
should,"  he  suggested,  and  so  jostled  them  out 
of  the  chamber  and  conducted  them  to  the 
buttery,  where  for  the  next  hour  he  diverted 
himself  by  making  them  very  drunk  indeed. 


XXV 
ROMEO    AND  JULIET 

BRILLIANA  turned  to  Evander. 

"Well,  Captain  Puritan,  are  you  displeased 
with  me?" 

Evander  disclaimed  such  thought. 

"Why  should  I  be  displeased  that  you,  a 
King's  woman,  serve  the  King?" 

Brilliana  was  pertinacious. 

"  If  you  were  a  King's  man  would  you  applaud 
me?" 

"  If  I  were  a  King's  man,"  Evander  confessed, 
"I  could  not  choose  but  applaud  you." 

"But  being  a  Puritan?"  Brilliana  persisted. 

"Why,"  said  Evander,  "being  a  Puritan,  I 
must  ask  you,  were  you  just  to  your  victims  ?' ' 

Brilliana  swept  them  away  disdainfully. 

"Each  would  have  cheated  the  King  in  an 
hour,  when,  to  all  who  think  with  me,  to  cheat 
the  King  is  little  better  than  to  cheat  God.  But 
your  scrupulosity  need  not  shiver.  If  the  King 
do  not  knight  my  misers  I  will  requite  them, 
little  as  they  deserve  it." 

235 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

Evander  admired  her. 

"You  are  a  brave  lady." 

Brilliana  gave  a  sigh. 

"  No,  I  am  not  brave  at  all;  I  am  newly  very 
timid.  I  am  frightened  of  the  real  world  now, 
and  feel  only  at  my  ease  with  shadows." 

"  Shall  we  journey  into  shadow-land?"  Evan- 
der asked. 

"By  what  path?"  Brilliana  questioned. 
Evander  touched  a  brown,  torn  book. 

"  Shall  we  read  again  in  Master  Shakespeare's 
book?" 

For  indeed  they  had  read  much  in  his  pages 
that  morning.  Brilliana  looked  pleased. 

"Yes,  indeed.  Let  us  go  into  my  para- 
dise." 

She  looked  into  the  garden  and  came  back 
with  a  shiver. 

"Ah,  no,  it  is  raining.  It  rained  when  the 
King  raised  his  standard  at  Nottingham.  Well, 
well,  we  can  read  here." 

Evander  was  turning  the  leaves. 

"What  shall  we  read?  Comedy,  history, 
tragedy?" 

Brilliana  was  for  the  solemn  mask. 

"  Let  it  be  tragedy.  I  have  laughed  so  much 
this  morning  that  my  mind  turns  to  melan- 
choly." 

236 


ROMEO    AND    JULIET 

Evander  looked  up  at  her  with  his  finger  on 
a  page. 

"Shall  we  read  'Romeo  and  Juliet'?" 

"I  know  that  play  by  root  of  heart,"  Brilli- 
ana  said. 

"Truly,  so  do  I,"  said  Evander. 

Brilliana  was  silent,  pensive,  a  finger  on  her 
lip,  considering  some  project.  Then  she  said, 
doubtfully : 

"  You  spoke  the  other  day  of  women  players, 
a  thing  that  seemed  to  me  incredible.  Shall 
we  see  how  it  would  seem  here  for  us  two  ?  Let 
us  while  away  a  wet  morning  by  playing  a  stage 
play." 

Evander's  heart  leaped. 

"  With  you  for  the  sweet  scene  in  the  garden," 
he  cried. 

In  a  moment  Brilliana  was  busy  in  the  setting 
of  her  scene.  She  pulled  round  a  heavy,  high- 
backed  chair  and  leaped  into  it,  leaning  over 
the  back  and  looking  up  as  if  the  painted  ceil- 
ing glowed  with  the  stars  of  an  Italian  night. 
Then  the  words  flowed  from  her,  the  wonder- 
ful words : 

"'O  Romeo,  Romeo,  wherefore  art  thou,  Romeo? 
Deny  thy  father  and  refuse  thy  name: 
Or  if  thou  wilt  not,  be  but  sworn  my  love, 
And  I'll  no  longer  be  a  Capulet."' 

237 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

Evander  said  his  line  a  little  stiffly;  he  was 
awkward,  being  a  man. 

"  '  Shall  I  hear  more,  or  shall  I  speak  at  this?' " 

Brilliana  flowed  on: 

"'  Tis  but  thy  name  that  is  my  enemy: 
Thou  art  thyself  though  not  a  Montague. 
What's  Montague?     It  is  nor  hand  nor  foot, 
Nor  arm  nor  face.      O  be  some  other  name 
Belonging  to  a  man. 

What's  in  a  name  ?     That  which  we  call  a  rose 
By  any  other  word  would  smell  as  sweet; 
So  Romeo  would,  were  he  not  Romeo  called, 
Retain  that  dear  perfection  which  he  owes, 
Without  that  title. — Romeo,  doff  thy  name, 
And  for  thy  name  which  is  no  part  of  thee, 
Take  all  myself.'" 

Evander  put  heart  now  into  his  part  as  he 
moved  towards  her. 

"  '  I  take  thee  at  thy  word. 
Call  me  but  love,  and  I'll  be  new  baptiz'd; 
Henceforth  I  never  will  be  Romeo." 

Brilliana  affected  to  peer  into  the  darkness  of 
a  green  garden. 

" '  What  man  art  thou,  that  thus  bescreened  in  night, 
So  stumblest  on  my  counsel?'" 
238 


ROMEO   AND   JULIET 

Evander  answered,  very  earnest  now: 

"  '  By  a  name 

I  know  not  how  to  tell  thee  who  I  am: 
My  name,  dear  saint,  is  hateful  to  myself, 
Because  it  is  an  enemy  to  thee: 
Had  I  it  written,  I  would  tear  the  word.'" 

Brilliana's  voice  faltered  as  she  took  up  the 
tale. 

"  '  My  ears  have  not  yet  drunk  a  hundred  words 
Of  thy  tongue's  uttering,  yet  I  know  the  sound. 
Art  thou  not  Romeo,  and  a  Montague?'" 

Evander  was  quite  near  now  to  the  chair  and 
the  fair  maid  perched  upon  it,  and  the  words 
trembled  on  his  lips. 

"'Neither,  fair  maid,  if  either  thee  dislike.'" 

He  put  out  his  hands  and  caught  hers  for  a 
moment.  Then  she  drew  them  free  and  jumped 
down.  She  went  to  the  open  space  and  looked 
into  the  wet  garden  with  a  hand  to  her  head  and 
a  hand  to  her  heart.  Evander  followed  her. 

"Ah,  me,"  she  said,  "love  was  a  heady  god 
in  Verona.  Here  in  England  he  could  not 
solder  such  hostilities." 

Evander  answered  her  passionately. 

239 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"  Here  in  England  love  is  a  more  glorious  god 
yet,  for  he  can  fling  a  Puritan  soldier  at  the  feet 
of  a  Cavalier  lady." 

Brilliana  still  stared  straight  before  her. 

"We  have  drifted  from  the  land  of  shadows." 

Evander  spoke  from  his  heart. 

"We  have  drifted  into  reality.  I  love  you. 
I  cannot  change  my  faith  for  that,  I  cannot 
change  my  flag.  But  believe  this,  remember 
this,  that  in  the  Parliament's  army  one  Puritan 
is  as  true  your  lover  as  all  the  Cavaliers  who 
worship  you." 

Brilliana  turned  and  looked  at  him  now,  very 
steadfastly : 

"  You  do  not  speak  by  the  book." 

"No,  only  by  my  heart,"  Evander  answered, 
simply.  "  I  tell  you  my  soul's  truth.  I  love 
you,  I  shall  love  you  to  the  end,  whether  the 
end  come  in  a  battle  on  a  windy  heath,  or  in  an 
oblong  box  of  a  bed." 

Brilliana's  eyes  were  bright  and  kind. 

"You  do  not  know  what  you  are  saying.  I 
do  not  know  what  you  are  saying.  The  world 
would  have  to  change  before  I  could  listen  with 
patience  to  words  of  love  on  the  lips  of  a  rebel." 

Evander  answered  her  bravely. 

"  I  know  that.  I  did  not  hope;  but  I  had  to 
set  my  soul  free.  To  the  end  of  ends  I  shall 

240 


ROMEO   AND   JULIET 

cherish  you,  live  for  you,  die  for  you :  very  lone- 
ly, well  content." 

Brilliana  turned  away.  The  heart  of  Juliet 
within  her  was  big  almost  to  breaking. 

"The  rain  ceases;  I  must  go  into  the  air." 

Even  as  she  spoke,  the  door  opened  and 
Tiffany  ran  in. 

"  My  lady!"  she  cried;  "my  lady,  John  Thor- 
oughgood  rides  up  the  avenue  on  a  foundering 
horse!" 

Brilliana  gave  a  great  cry  and  went  ghost- 
white. 

"Dear  God,  the  letter!  I  had  forgotten  the 
letter!" 

Tiffany  slipped  from  the  room.  Evander 
answered  Brilliana 's  cry  very  calmly. 

"  For  the  second,  so  had  I.  But,  indeed,  dear 
lady  and  friend,  I  know  its  terms." 

;<  You  cannot  be  sure,"  Brilliana  whispered. 

"I  am  sure,"  Evander  replied.  "I  know 
Colonel  Cromwell." 

The  door  opened  again  and  Thoroughgood 
entered,  splashed  with  mud  and  carrying  a  letter 
in  his  hand. 

"My  lady,"  said  Thoroughgood,  "I  have 
ridden  hard  and  long  to  find  the  rebels.  I  have 
killed  two  horses;  I  had  to  wait  on  Colonel 
Cromwell's  leisure;  I  was  fired  at  thrice  as  I 

241 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

rode.  At  long  last  and  through  many  perils 
here  is  the  letter." 

"I  thank  you,"  Brilliana  said.  :'You  are  a 
faithful  servant.  Seek  wine  and  food  and  rest." 

Thoroughgood  saluted  her  and  went  out. 
He  looked  fagged  to  exhaustion.  In  the  pass- 
age he  found  Tiffany,  kissing-kind.  Brilliana 
opened  the  letter  and  read  it  slowly.  Then  she 
gave  a  cry. 

"Pray  you  read,  lady,"  Evander  said,  com- 
posedly. Brilliana  complied  in  a  hard,  set 
voice. 

"MADAM, — The  prisoner  with  whom  you  claim  kin- 
ship was  sentenced  to  be  shot  as  a  spy  this  morning. 
My  loving  greetings  to  my  very  dear  friend,  Mr.  Cloud, 
who,  if  you  chose  enough  to  murder  him,  will,  I  know, 
meet  death  as  a  Christian  soldier  should. 

"OLIVER  CROMWELL." 

"  The  wicked  villain,"  Brilliana  cried. 

"Nay,  lady,"  Evander  argued  tranquilly — he 
must  carry  himself  well  now — "the  true  cap- 
tain doing  his  duty.  It  hath  cost  him  a  pang 
to  sacrifice  me ;  he  would  have  sacrificed  his  son 
Henry  or  his  son  Richard  in  the  like  case." 

Brilliana  clasped  and  unclasped  her  hands. 

"  I  care  nothing  for  his  son  Henry  or  his  son 
Richard." 

242 


ROMEO   AND   JULIET 

"You  care  nothing  for  me?"  Evander  affirm- 
ed, slowly. 

"I  do  care,"  she  said,  hotly.  "We,,  have 
broken  bread  together,  played  games  together, 
masked  at  friendship  till  the  sport  became 
reality." 

"  Lady,"  said  Evander,  "  I  thank  you  for  the 
kindness  you  imply.  Our  friendship  has  been 
brief,  but  passing  sweet.  I  shall  die  on  a  divine 
memory." 

"Why,  sir,"  she  gasped,  "you  do  not  think 
I  could  kill  you  now?" 

"You  vowed  I  should  die  if  your  cousin 
died,"  he  reminded  her.  "I  think  you  must 
keep  your  word.  It  is  the  fortune  of  war." 

"  The  fortune  of  war!"  Brilliana  gave  a  bitter 
laugh.  "  I  would  not  have  you  die  to  save- 
On,  I  must  not  say — but  fly,  sir,  fly!  Ride  hot 
and  hard  to  Cambridge,  where  you  will  be  safe. 
You  shall  have  the  best  horse  in  my  stable. 
You  are  my  prisoner.  I  give  you  back  your 
parole.  Only,  for  God's  sake,  go!  My  friends 
would  kill  you  if  they  caught  you  here." 

Evander  begged  a  boon. 

"May  I  kiss  your  hand  before  I  go?" 

Brilliana  tried  to  smile. 

"A  Cavalier  would  not  have  asked." 

"I  am  Puritan,  ingrain,"  he  asserted. 
17  243 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"You  are  a  dear  gentleman." 

She  sighed  and  held  out  her  hand.  As  he 
stooped  to  salute  it  the  door  was  dashed  open 
and  a  man  booted  and  spurred  flung  into  the 
room.  As  he  stood  for  a  moment  amazed  at 
what  he  saw,  Brilliana,  turning,  recognized  Sir 
Rufus  Quaryll.  She  disengaged  her  hand  from 
Evander's  and  moved  a  little  towards  him. 
Evander  instinctively  felt  for  his  sword.  Sir 
Rufus's  face  was  a  great  blaze  of  red. 

"  In  the  devil's  name,  what  does  this  mean  ?" 
he  shouted. 

Brilliana  drew  herself  up. 

'You  forget  yourself,"  she  said,  haughtily. 
Rufus  barked  at  her  with  rage. 

;'  You  have  forgotten  yourself;  in  the  arms  of 
a  doomed  traitor. ' ' 

"Civil  words,  sir!"  Evander  cried,  moving  on 
him.  Brilliana  motioned  him  to  hold  back. 

"This  gentleman  is  no  traitor." 

An  open  letter  lay  at  Rufus's  feet.  He 
pounced  on  it  and  read.  He  was  pale  now,  the 
white  heat  of  anger. 

"Gentleman!  Oh,  I  know  much,  guess  all. 
Randolph  is  dead  there  yonder,  and  this  rogue, 
who  should  be  dead  and  ditched  here,  lives. 
Faugh!  But  he  dies  now." 

On  the  word  he  had  drawn  his  sword  and  ad- 


ROMEO   AND   JULIET 

vanced  upon  Evander,  whose  own  sword  was 
no  less  swiftly  out.  Brilliana  came  between 
the  two  men. 

"  If  you  kill  him,  you  kill  me,"  she  said. 

"By  God,  you  deserve  to  die!"  was  Rufus's 
answer. 

In  the  headiness  of  their  brawl  none  of  the 
party  had  noticed  how  the  door  had  opened 
again  and  how  a  man  stood  at  gaze  in  the  door- 
way. A  slender  man  of  middle  height,  in  travel- 
stained  riding-habit  of  black;  a  man  with  a 
comely,  melancholy  face  and  sad  eyes;  a  man 
who  seemed  very  weary.  He  wore  a  jewelled 
George.  For  a  moment  the  new-comer  stood 
unheeded,  then  he  advanced  into  the  room. 
Sir  Rufus  heard  him,  turned,  and  cried,  "The 
King!"  Evander  sent  his  sword  back  into  its 
sheath.  Brilliana  knelt  in  reverence.  This 
was  the  hero,  almost  the  divinity,  the  monarch 
she  worshipped,  the  sovereign  she  had  never 
seen. 

"Gentlemen,  what  is  this?"  the  King  asked. 
He  turned  to  Brilliana. 

" Lady,  why  did  you  not  come  to  greet  me?" 

Brilliana  rose. 

"Your  Majesty — "  she  began,  but  Rufus  in- 
terrupted her  hotly. 

"  Forgiveness,  sire.  I  dashed  ahead  to  warn 

245 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

her  of  the  great  honor  you  offered,  halting  here 
from  B anbury,  only  to  find  her  slobbering  on  a 
Roun dhead  gallows-bird . ' ' 

Brilliana  looked  steadfastly  at  the  King. 
She  was  very  pale  but  not  at  all  afraid. 

"Your  Majesty,  this  man  slanders  basely. 
This  gentleman  is  honorable." 

"Honorable!"  Rufus  repeated,  in  derision. 

"Silence,  sir!"  Charles  commanded.  "Who 
are  you?"  he  asked  of  Evander.  Evander 
saluted. 

"  Captain  Evander  Cloud,  of  the  Parliamen- 
tary army." 

"How  come  you  here?"  the  King  inquired. 

Brilliana  answered  for  him. 

"  Your  Majesty,  he  was  taken  prisoner  treach- 
erously, though  the  treachery  was  mine,  three 
days  ago.  I  offered  his  life  in  exchange  for  the 
life  of  Randolph  Harby." 

"And  Randolph  Harby  is  dead,"  said  Rufus, 
"shot  as  a  spy  by  the  devilish  rebel  of  Cam- 
bridge. See,  sire — see!" 

He  offered  the  letter  to  Charles,  but  the  King 
put  it  from  him.  His  face  was  inscrutable  as 
Evander  urged  his  case. 

"Your  Majesty,  I  am  no  spy,  and  my  life 
could  not  be  pawned  for  a  spy's  life." 

Charles's  sad  eves  travelled  to  Brilliana. 
246 


ROMEO   AND   JULIET 

"Randolph  Harby  was  no  spy,"  he  said. 
"You  held  this  gentleman  hostage  for  your 
cousin's  life?" 

"I  did  make  that  offer,"  Brilliana  admitted. 
The  King  frowned  now. 

"And  yet  he  still  lives.  I  thought  this  was 
called  Loyalty  House." 

"Disloyalty  House  it  should  be  called  now," 
Rufus  taunted.  Brilliana  turned  upon  him 
fiercely. 

"You  lie!  you  lie!  you  lie!"  she  hurled  the 
words  at  him,  hating  him.  Charles  held  up  his 
hand. 

"  Peace!  This  is  not  the  welcome  I  expected 
here.  We  did  not  think  to  find  rebels  tendered 
so  delicately.  Sir  Rufus,  we  give  you  charge  of 
Harby  and  of  this  gentleman.  We  will  con- 
sider his  claim  presently,  for  we  would  deal  hon- 
estly even  with  our  enemies." 

He  looked  at  Evander. 

"  But  we  can  give  you  little  hope,  sir.  Pre- 
pare to  die." 

Fretfully  he  addressed  Rufus. 

"  I  am  very  weary.  I  must  break  my  fast." 
He  glanced  coldly  at  Brilliana. 

"Lady,  we  shall  not  need  your  attendance." 

Brilliana  made  her  master  a  deep  rever- 
ence. 

247 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"  I  take  my  leave,  your  Majesty."  She  went 
close  to  Evander. 

"  Can  you  forgive  me  ?"  she  begged.  Evander 
looked  into  her  wet  eyes  joyously. 

"  Read  in  my  heart  that  I  thank  God  to  have 
known  you,  loved  you." 

Brilliana  laid  a  hand  for  a  moment  on  his 
shoulder  and  spoke  in  a  soft,  even  voice. 

"You  have  been  my  enemy;  you  have  been 
my  friend;  you  are  now  the  one  man  in  all 
the  world  for  me.  Read  in  my  heart  that  I 
thank  God  to  have  known  you,  that  I  thank 
God  that  I  love  you.  Remember,  I  love  you, 
Evander.  Farewell." 

Then  she  saluted  the  King  and  went  slowly 
out  of  the  room  without  looking  back. 


XXVI 
RESURRECTION 

SOME  hours  later  Rufus  Quaryll  sat  alone  in 
the  garden  -  room,  writing.  It  was  coming  on 
dusk;  candles  had  been  lit,  the  fire  was  ruddy  on 
the  hearth.  Rufus,  as  he  wrote,  was  well  con- 
tent with  the  turn  of  things.  He  raged  at 
Brilliana,  but  she  should  marry  him  all  the  same 
when  the  Puritan  dog  was  dead.  He  had,  as 
he  believed,  convinced  the  King  at  meat  that 
the  plea  Evander  raised  was  valueless,  that 
Evander's  life  was  rightly  forfeit.  Evander  was 
under  close  guard;  so,  indeed,  was  Brilliana,  for 
he  had  stationed  a  sentry  at  the  door  of  her 
apartments :  he  was  determined  that  she  should 
not  see  the  King  again.  Now  the  King  lay  in 
the  inner  room,  sleeping;  when  he  rose  it  would 
be  easy  to  get  the  order  for  Evander's  death. 
Furious  in  his  hate,  furious  in  his  love,  he  would 
neither  spare  Evander  nor  surrender  Brilliana. 
She  should  be  his  wife,  if  he  had  to  drag  her 
before  an  altar. 

As  he  thought  and  wrote,  the  door  opened 

249 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

and  Halfman  entered  the  room.  Rufus,  lifting 
his  head,  faced  him  with  a  finger  on  his  lips 
while  with  the  other  he  pointed  to  the  door  of 
the  inner  chamber. 

"Hush!"  he  whispered;  "the  King  sleeps. 
But  all  is  well.  He  has  as  good  as  promised 
the  Puritan  shall  die." 

"All  is  not  so  well  as  you  think,"  said  Half- 
man, sardonically.  "  Here  comes  one  more 
pleased  to  see  you  than  you  to  see  him." 

He  went  to  the  door  again  and  ushered  in  a 
man  who  had  waited  outside,  a  man  muffled 
in  a  cloak,  and  his  face  hidden  by  the  way  his 
hat  was  pulled  over  it.  The  man  advanced 
slowly  towards  the  surprised  Rufus,  and  sud- 
denly dropping  his  cloak  and  throwing  back  his 
hat  uncovered  a  youthful,  jovial  face.  Rufus 
gaped  at  him  in  despair  and  gasped  a  name: 

"Randolph!" 

Randolph  Harby  dropped  into  a  chair  and 
chuckled. 

"  No  wonder  you  stare  as  if  you  faced  a 
spectre.  But  I'm  flesh  and  blood,  lad." 

Rufus,  trying  to  collect  himself  against  this 
staggering  blow,  again  raised  a  warning  hand. 

"For  Heaven's  sake  speak  lower!  The  King 
is  asleep  yonder.  How  do  you  come  here?" 

Randolph  leaned  over  and  whispered,  gig- 
250 


RESURRECTION 

gling,  into  Sir  Rufus's  ear.  Halfman  watched 
with  grim  amusement.  If  he  loved  Evander 
little,  come  to  think  of  it  he  loved  Rufus  less, 
all  said  and  done;  so  he  grinned  at  his  discom- 
fiture. 

"A  wonder,"  Randolph  said.  "When  they 
had  the  time  to  try  me,  their  fools'  court-martial, 
thanks  to  that  damned  Cromwell,  settled  me 
for  a  spy  and  sentenced  me  to  be  shot.  But 
the  jailer  where  I  lay  had  a  daughter.  Need  I 
say  more?  We  Harbys  are  invincible.  Any 
way,  there  was  no  prisoner  when  the  shooting- 
party  came  to  claim  me,  and  here  I  am,  in  time, 
I  hope,  to  save  the  life  of  that  poor  Puritan 
devil." 

Sir  Rufus's  wits  were  busy  hatching  mischief. 
He  looked  with  aversion  at  the  smiling,  self- 
complacent  ass  whose  resurrection  tangled  his 
plan.  But  his  voice  was  very  amiable  as  he 
asked: 

"  Do  any  in  the  household  know  of  your  re- 
turn?" 

"Devil  a  one,"  the  youth  answered,  cheerily, 
and  Sir  Rufus  would  have  liked  to  drive  a  knife 
into  him  for  his  mirth,  though  his  spirits  rose 
at  his  answer.  "  I  thought  to  take  my  cousin 
by  surprise,  scare  her  with  my  ghost,  maybe. 
So  I  came  skulking  through  the  park  and  ran 

251 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

on  this  good  sir,  who  nabbed  me."  He  indicated 
Half  man  with  a  wave  of  the  hand.  "  I  ex- 
plained to  him,  so  that  my  joke  should  not  spoil, 
and  he  smuggled  me  in  here  to  surprise  you. 
Where  is  Brilliana?" 

Rufus  looked  at  him  thoughtfully. 

"Are  you  fresh  enough  to  ride?"  he  asked. 

"If  need  be,"  Randolph  replied,  astonished. 

Rufus  talked  rapidly,  writing  a  letter  as  he 
spoke. 

"  Then  you  may  save  your  Puritan  yet.  We 
sent  your  hostage  to  Oxford  for  safe-keeping. 
News  came  of  your  death,  and  but  now  the 
King  sent  an  order  to  have  the  fellow  shot.  But 
you  can  overtake  the  order,  outstrip  it.  Here  is 
a  reprieve  for  the  prisoner." 

Rufus  folded  the  paper,  sealed  it,  and  handed 
it  to  the  bewildered  Randolph. 

"  Pick  what  horse  you  please,  and  ride  for  the 
honor  of  our  cause." 

Randolph  gasped. 

"  May  I  not  see  the  King  ?" 

Rufus  refused  him  firmly. 

"Impossible.     His  Majesty  sleeps." 

"My  cousin  Brilliana?"  Randolph  asked. 
"What  of  my  joke?" 

Rufus  spoke  very  solemnly. 

"The  one  thing  now  is  to  save  a  man's  life. 
252 


RESURRECTION 

Ride   hard,  and  God  speed  you."     Randolph 
yielded  cheerfully. 

"  Well,  well,  I  should  be  sorry  the  rebel  dog 
should  die  wrongfully.  You  will  justify  me  to 
the  King  for  not  attending  him?" 

Rufus  nodded. 

"I  will  justify  you  to  his  Majesty." 

"And  not  a  word  to  Brilliana,"  Randolph 
iterated.  "  I  will  have  my  joke  on  my  return. 
Farewell." 

He  muffled  himself  again  and  went  out  quick- 
ly. Rufus  sat  biting  the  end  of  his  quill.  Half- 
man  stepped  forward  and  made  him  a  series  of 
extravagant  salutations,  which  parodied  the 
most  elaborate  congees  of  a  dancing-master. 
Rufus  glared  at  him. 

"What  is  the  matter  with  you?"  he  asked, 
savagely.  Half  man  leered  apishly  at  him. 

"You  are  a  splendid  scoundrel,"  he  vowed. 
"  Do  not  frown.  I  have  lived  with  such  and  I 
speak  in  praise." 

Rufus  struck  his  hands  upon  the  table. 

"I  will  have  this  Puritan  devil,"  he  swore, 
"if  the  King  do  not  play  the  granny." 

Half  man  winked  at  him,  diverted  by  his 
heat  and  hate. 

"  Say  that  more  softly,  for  I  think  I  hear  him 
stirring." 

253 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

The  two  listened  in  silence.  The  curtains 
of  the  inner  room  were  parted  and  Charles  en- 
tered the  room.  He  still  looked  haggard,  ill  at 
ease. 

"Was  any  one  here?"  he  asked,  as  the  two 
men  rose  respectfully.  Rufus  answered,  glibly: 

"  No,  your  Majesty.  We  spoke  in  whispers 
to  respect  your  rest.  Did  your  Majesty  sleep 
well?" 

"Ill,  very  ill,"  Charles  answered,  drearily. 
"  I  had  bad  dreams  and  could  not  wake  from 
them.  Leave  me,  sirs." 

Rufus  solicited  his  eyes. 

"And  the  prisoner?" 

Charles  looked  at  him  vaguely. 

"The  prisoner?" 

"The  rebel  hostage  for  murdered  Randolph 
Harby,"  Rufus  reminded  him. 

Charles  looked  vexed. 

"  Oh  yes,  I  suppose  he  must  die.  Surely  he 
must  die.  His  plea  is  specious,  but  Randolph 
Harby  is  dead." 

"Brave,  murdered  Randolph."  Rufus's  re- 
gret was  pathetic.  "  Shall  I  give  order  for  the 
firing  party  ?"  He  made  as  if  to  write.  Charles 
frowned. 

"You  are  over-zealous,  sir;  I  have  not  made 
up  my  mind." 

254 


RESURRECTION 

Rufus  read  obstinacy  in  the  royal  face  and 
knew  that  it  were  useless  to  argue  further  then. 

"As  your  Majesty  please,"  he  submitted. 

The  King  seated  himself  heavily  at  the  table 
and  fixed  his  eyes  upon  an  open  map.  Behind 
his  back  Rufus  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  left 
the  room.  Halfman  followed,  a  very  Jaques  of 
meditations,  touched  by  the  pathos  of  the  tired 
King,  grimly  diverted  by  the  ruffianism  of  Ru- 
fus. A  mad  world! 


XXVII 
THE   KING'S   IMAGE 

THE  melancholy  King  sat  in  the  great  room 
alone.  His  eyes  were  fixed  on  the  map,  but  his 
mind  was  far  away,  over  yonder  in  Holland 
where  she  was — she,  the  Queen.  The  thought  of 
her  beauty  troubled  him ;  her  soft  voice  seemed 
to  be  whispering  at  his  ear  in  her  pretty  broken 
English.  Some  lines  in  a  play  he  knew  came 
into  his  mind,  lines  uttered  by  a  king  who,  like 
himself,  had  known  the  horror  of  civil  war, 
lines  which  said  that  it  were  better  to  be  a  shep- 
herd and  tend  sheep  than  to  be  an  English  king. 
He  sighed  and  his  handsome  head  drooped 
upon  his  breast,  and  the  brown  hair  that  was 
graying  so  fast  hid  his  cheeks.  His  eyes  were 
wet  and  he  could  not  see  the  map;  it  was  all 
a  blur  of  meaningless  criss-cross  lines.  This 
would  not  do;  he  must  think,  he  must  plan,  he 
must  decide;  but  his  head  remained  bent  and 
the  map  remained  a  criss-cross  puzzle. 

The  image  of  himself,  which  faced  him  as  he 
sat,  that  picture  of  a  king,  royal,  joyous,  un- 

256 


THE    KING'S    IMAGE 

challenged,  seemed  to  move  a  little,  as  if  the 
bright  figure  on  the  canvas  sought  to  approach 
and  reassure  the  dejected  man  who  crouched 
over  the  map  of  a  divided  kingdom.  It  did 
move,  the  serene  Van  Dyck  portrait;  it  moved 
a  little,  and  a  little,  and  a  little  more ;  moved  side- 
way  as  a  door  moves,  yawned  a  foot  of  space 
between  frame  and  wall,  and  through  that  foot 
of  space  Brilliana  slipped  into  the  room. 

;<  Your  Majesty,"  she  said,  softly. 

The  King  gave  a  little  start  as  he  lifted  his 
head  and  looked  at  her.  She  thought  she  had 
never  seen  so  pitifully  a  weary  face  as  the  face 
of  her  King,  and  her  heart  ached  for  him,  but  it 
ached  most  for  her  lover. 

Charles  rose  to  his  feet,  flawlessly  courteous, 
much  wondering. 

"  How  did  you  come  here,  mistress  ?"  he  asked, 
and  she  sighed  at  the  tired  sound  of  his  voice. 
"I  understood  from  Sir  Rufus  that  you  were 
for  the  time — " 

He  paused,  and  Brilliana  calmly  finished  the 
sentence. 

"  Confined  to  my  apartments.  Yes,  that  was 
Rufus's  plan.  But  though  Rufus  calls  himself 
captain  of  this  castle  he  does  not  know  it  so  well 
as  I  do.  There  are  ways  of  getting  hither  and 
thither  that  he  does  not  dream  of." 

257 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"You  are  a  determined  young  woman,"  the 
King  said,  with  a  faint  smile,  "  if  you  think  so 
lightly  of  the  privacy  of  your  King." 

Brilliana  flung  herself  on  her  knees  in  a  mo- 
ment, her  hands  clasped,  her  eyes  shining  with 
honest  tears. 

"Your  Majesty!"  she  cried;  "your  Majesty, 
I  would  never  have  dared  this  if  I  were  not  a 
woman  very  deep  in  love,  if  my  lover  were  not 
in  danger,  and  if— 

She  paused. 

"And  if?"  Charles  echoed,  his  fine,  irresolute 
face  neither  smiling  nor  frowning.  "  Finish 
your  sentence,  lady." 

"And  if  I  had  not  heard  that  your  Majesty 
was  a  very  perfect,  true  lover,"  Brilliana  went 
on.  "  Your  Majesty's  love  for  the  gracious  lady 
now  in  France  is  the  admiration  of  your  sub- 
jects." 

A  faint  color  glowed  on  the  King's  pale 
cheeks.  He  was  indeed  the  perfect,  true  lover 
of  Henrietta  Maria,  and  the  greatest  sorrow  of 
all  the  clustering  sorrows  that  the  civil  war  had 
brought  him  was  her  absence  from  his  side. 

"  It  would  be  strange  indeed  if  I  did  not  love 
such  a  lady,"  he  said,  gently;  "but  that  lady  is 
my  queen,  my  wife,  my  comrade,  my  loyal 
friend,  while  he  you  plead  for  is  but  an  ac- 

258 


THE   KING'S   IMAGE 

quaintance  of  a  few  days,  and,  moreover,  in 
all  thoughts  and  deeds  your  enemy  —  and 
mine  ' ' 

Brilliana  had  now  risen  to  her  feet  and  she 
faced  the  king  valiantly,  for  she  knew  that  she 
would  have  to  plead  hard  and  well. 

"Your  Majesty,"  she  answered,  "as  for  the 
acquaintanceship,  one  of  our  poets  has  said, 
'Whoever  loves  that  loves  not  at  first  sight?' 
and  though  indeed  at  first  sight  I  was  far  from 
giving  this  gentleman  my  love,  I  saw  in  him  at 
once  those  qualities  which  in  a  man  deserve  love, 
As  for  his  enmity,  we  are  told  that  we  should 
love  our  enemies." 

A  frown  overspread  the  King's  face  and  Brilli- 
ana faltered. 

"  I  cannot  claim  for  myself  that  wealth  of 
charity,"  Charles  said,  "that  would  make  me 
love  those  that  by  rebellion  and  contumacy 
have  plunged  poor  England  into  war." 

"  Sire,  sire,"  Brilliana  sighed,  "  if  you  will  but 
pardon  this  gentleman  I  will  promise  you  that 
I  will  never  love  another  of  your  Majesty's 
enemies." 

Charles  frowned. 

"  I  do  not  like  your  loyalty.  Why  do  you 
plead  for  the  life  of  a  rebel  ?" 

"  I  am  your  servant,  none  loyaller,"  Brilliana 
18  259 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

answered,  boldly;  "but  I  am  a  woman,  and  I 
plead  for  the  man  I  love." 

"  If  you  were  truly  loyal,"  Charles  comment- 
ed, "you  could  not  love  a  traitor." 

Brilliana  pressed  her  hands  tightly  against 
her  breast  and  her  face  flushed. 

"  Captain  Cloud  is  not  a  traitor.  He  is  honest 
before  God." 

Charles  admired  her  pertinacity.  Here  was 
a  woman  who  would  not  lightly  lose  heart  or 
change  purpose. 

"I  will  not  wrangle  with  you,"  he  said.  "I 
think  the  gentleman  deserves  death.  But  be- 
cause I  know  very  well  what  it  is  to  love  truly, 
why,  I  will  let  you  save  him  if  you  can." 

Brilliana's  voice  was  charged  with  gratitude. 
"  Oh,  your  Majesty  is  always  noble.  But 
how?" 

Charles  looked  at  her  fixedly,  touching  his 
chin  with  the  feather  of  his  quill.  "Thus wise 
—only  thus  wise.  You  will  persuade  Captain 
Cloud  to  return  to  his  allegiance." 

Brilliana's  gratitude  ebbed  and  her  voice 
hardened.  "  I  know  he  will  never  change 
sides." 

An  enigmatic  smile  passed  over  the  fretful 
face  of  the  King.  "  I  think  so,  too,"  he  agreed, 
and  turned  again  to  his  papers.  But  Brilliana 

260 


THE    KING'S   IMAGE 

was  not  to  be  so  rebuffed.  Coming  a  little  near- 
er to  Charles,  she  fell  on  her  knees  and  extended 
her  hands  in  supplication.  "  Sire,  my  lover's 
life!" 

Charles,  who  had  lost  nothing  of  her  actions, 
though  he  affected  to  be  wholly  absorbed  in  his 
business,  looked  round  and  down  at  her  with 
much  assumption  of  surprise. 

:<  You  are  still  there  ?  You  are  a  pertinacious 
maykin." 

"  Sire,  in  the  Queen's  name!"  Brilliana  plead- 
ed. The  King  sighed. 

"  Well,  one  more  concession,  this  is  the  last— 
the  very  last."  Charles  prided  himself  on  his 
firmness,  and  he  struck  the  table  as  he  spoke 
to  emphasize  his  unalterable  resolve.  "  If  you 
win  me  his  word  of  honor  to  take  no  more  part 
in  this  war,  to  remain  neutral  till  King  humble 
Commons  or  Commons  murder  King,  why,  it  is 
enough;  he  lives." 

Brilliana  shivered  at  the  King's  alternative. 
"Your  Majesty  cannot  believe  that  the  worst 
of  your  subjects  would  aim  at  your  sacred 
life?" 

The  King's  fine  eyes  were  more  than  usual 
melancholy,  and  he  opened  and  clasped  his  long 
fingers  nervously. 

"  I  cannot  choose  but  believe  it.     Their  words 

261 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

are  wild — that  is  trifling.  But  long  ago,  when 
I  was  young,  there  was  a  man,  one  Arthur  Dee, 
a  wizard  and  the  son  of  a  wizard,  he  had  a 
magic  crystal — ah,  Father  in  heaven!" 

Charles  gave  a  groan  and  hid  his  face  in 
his  hands,  Brilliana  thrilled  with  compassion. 
"Your  Majesty!"  she  cried;  "your  Majesty!" 

Charles  drew  his  hands  away  from  his  face. 
He  rose,  and,  as  he  spoke,  he  stared  fixedly  be- 
fore him  as  if  he  saw  the  sight  he  was  describing. 

"  In  that  sphere  I  saw  a  platform  hung  with 
black.  On  it  I  seemed  to  see  myself  staring  at 
a  sea  of  hateful  faces.  One  with  a  mask  stood 
by  my  side  who  carried  an  axe.  I  have  never 
forgotten  it." 

He  stood  rigid,  with  clasped  hands.  Brilli- 
ana shuddered  at  his  words. 

"Sire!  sire!  this  was  some  lying  vision." 

With  an  effort  the  King  controlled  himself ;  his 
features  softened  to  their  habitual  melancholy, 
his  hands  relaxed  their  clasp,  and  he  seated  him- 
self again  by  the  table. 

"Belike,  belike;  I  am  unwise  to  think  upon 
it,"  he  said,  in  a  low  voice.  Leaning  across 
the  table,  he  struck  a  bell  sharply.  The  door 
opened  and  the  soldier  in  immediate  attend- 
ance upon  the  King  entered. 

"  Tell  Sir  Rufus  to  attend  us,"  the  King  said. 
262 


THE    KING'S   IMAGE 

The  soldier  bowed  and  withdrew.  Charles 
looked  up  at  Brilliana.  "  Sir  Rufus  will  be 
loath  to  lose  his  prey,"  he  said.  "  He  is  a  fierce 
hawk  that  clings  to  his  quarry." 

"He  was  once  my  friend,"  Brilliana  said, 
sadly.  The  King  smiled  his  melancholy  smile. 

"  If  I  were  in  his  place,"  he  said,  gravely,  "  I 
think  I  might  be  tempted  to  play  his  part.  You 
are  a  very  fair  maiden." 

Brilliana  shook  her  head.  "The  love  that 
makes  a  man  base  is  no  good  love.  He  will 
never  be  my  friend  again." 

"Here,  as  I  think,  he  comes,"  Charles  said. 
The  door  opened  and  Sir  Rufus  entered  the 
room.  He  was  so  amazed  at  facing  Brilliana 
that  for  a  moment  he  forgot  to  render  salutation 
to  the  King.  Charles's  eyes  brightened  as  they 
used  to  brighten  at  the  playhouse.  Here  was  a 
living  play  being  played  before  him,  tragical,  com- 
ical— man  and  woman  fighting  for  a  man's  life. 

"Sir  Rufus,"  he  ordered,  "send  to  our  pres- 
ence the  prisoner,  the  Parliament  officer." 

Rufus  glanced  at  Brilliana's  stern,  averted 
face;  he  read  something  like  mockery  on  the 
thin,  royal  lips.  For  an  instant  he  ventured 
to  protest. 

"  But,  your  Majesty — "  he  began,  but  he  got 
no  further.  The  King  checked  him  with  a 

263 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

frown  and  a  raised  hand.  It  was  easy  to  make 
him  obstinate  in  crossing  a  follower. 

"You  have  heard  my  commands,"  he  said, 
sternly. 

Sir  Rufus  bowed  his  head  and  retreated. 
There  was  nothing  else  for  him  to  do.  He  just 
glanced  at  Brilliana  as  he  went  out.  If  Brilli- 
ana  had  seen  the  glance  she  would  have  read  his 
rage  and  hate  in  it.  But  she  did  not  see  it,  for 
her  head  was  still  averted.  The  King  saw  it, 
however,  and  he  felt  that  the  situation  was 
alive.  He  turned  to  Brilliana. 

"I  am  a  complaisant  monarch,  as  I  think," 
he  said.  "  Now,  lady,  do  your  best  to  make 
your  sweetheart  see  reason.  Honestly,  I  do 
not  think  he  is  worth  so  many  words,  but  you 
think  otherwise,  and  for  your  sake  I  wish  you  a 
winning  tongue." 

Brilliana  bowed  deeply.  "  I  humbly  thank 
your  Majesty,"  she  said,  and  felt  that  the  King 
had  done  much  for  her.  From  offering  the  im- 
possible he  had  come  to  offering  the  possible. 
It  seemed  a  little  task  to  persuade  a  lover  com- 
mitted to  a  wrongful  cause  to  lay  aside  his 
sword  and  wait  the  issue. 

The  King's  eyes  had  fallen  on  his  papers 
again,  and  he  did  not  lift  them  thence  nor  take 
heed  of  Brilliana  again  until  the  tread  of  feet 

264 


THE    KING'S   IMAGE 

was  heard  in  the  corridor.  In  another  moment 
Evander,  escorted  by  two  royal  troopers,  en- 
tered the  room.  There  was  a  sudden  gladness  in 
his  eyes  at  the  sight  of  Brilliana,  but  he  at  once 
saluted  the  King  in  a  military  fashion  and  stood 
quietly  at  attention  waiting  the  royal  word. 

Charles  rose  from  his  chair,  and  for  a  moment 
his  melancholy  eyes  travelled  from  the  beautiful 
girl  standing  by  the  window  to  the  gallant  sol- 
dier standing  by  the  door.  The  face  of  Evan- 
der pleased  his  scrutiny  far  more  than  the  face 
of  Rufus,  and  it  came  into  his  mind  that  he 
would  gladly  enroll  Evander  under  his  standard 
and  hand  over  Rufus  to  the  Crop-ears.  Truly 
the  Puritan  soldier  and  the  Lady  of  Loyalty 
House  made  a  brave  pair. 

,  "Sir,"  he  said,  quietly,  "this  lady  desires 
speech  with  you,  and  has  persuaded  me  to  per- 
mit an  interview."  He  turned  to  the  troopers. 

"  Wait  outside  the  door,  sirs,"  he  commanded. 
When  they  had  obeyed  he  looked  again  towards 
Brilliana,  and  there  was  a  smile  on  his  tired 
face,  a  smile  partly  whimsical,  partly  pitying, 
as  if  encouraging  to  an  adventure  yet  doubtful 
of  the  result.  Then  he  gave  her  a  gracious  sal- 
utation, and,  without  further  notice  of  Evander 
Cloud,  passed  into  the  adjoining  room  and  left 
the  lovers  alone. 

265 


XXVIII 
LOVER   AND    LOVER 

EVANDER  turned  to  Brilliana  with  question  in 
his  eyes;  Brilliana  advanced  towards  Evander 
with  question  on  her  lips. 

"Are  you  very  sure  you  love  me?"  she 
queried.  Evander  made  to  take  her  in  his  arms, 
but  she  stayed  him  with  a  lifted  hand  of  warn- 
ing. 

"Sure,"  he  answered,  fervently,  and  surety 
shone  in  his  eyes. 

Brilliana  leaned  against  the  table  at  which  the 
King  had  sat  and  faced  him  gravely. 

"  More  than  life,  more  than  all  things  in  the 
wide  world?" 

Evander's  answer  came  as  flash  to  flint. 

"More  than  life;  more  than  all  things  in  this 
wide  world—  '  there  was  a  momentary  fall  in 
his  voice;  then  he  added,  "save  honor." 

A  little  sudden  fear  pricked  at  Brilliana's 
heart,  but  she  tried  to  deny  it  with  a  little, 
teasing  laugh. 

"Oh,  that  wonderful  word  'honor,"  she 
266 


LOVER  AND  LOVER 

mocked.     "I  thought  we  should  pull  that  out 
of  the  sack  sooner  or  later." 

Evander  watched  her  with  surprise.  "  What 
is  coming  next?"  he  wondered.  He  began  to 
fear  as  he  answered,  simply : 

'You  would  not  have  me  neglect  honor?" 

Brilliana's  face  was  set  steadfastly  towards 
him;  Brilliana's  eyes  were  very  bright;  Brilli- 
ana's cheeks  were  as  red  as  the  late  October 
roses. 

"  Here  is  what  I  would  have  you  do,"  she  said, 
breathlessly,  and  then  paused — paused  so  long 
that  Evander,  watching  and  waiting,  prompted 
her  with  a  questioning  "Well?" 

Brilliana  still  seemed  to  hesitate.  That  word 
"honor"  had  frightened  her  for  Evander,  had 
frightened  her  for  herself.  She  now  groped 
uncertain,  who  thought  to  tread  so  surely. 

"Will  you  do  as  I  wish  if  I  tell  you?"  she 
asked,  trying  to  mask  anxiety  with  a  jesting 
manner.  And  when  Evander  responded  gravely, 
"  If  I  can,"  she  pressed  him  impetuously  again. 

"Nay,  now,  make  me  a  square  promise." 
She  looked  very  fair  as  she  pleaded. 

"All  that  a  doomed  man  can  do—  '  Evander 
replied,  smiling  somewhat  wistfully. 

Brilliana  shook  her  head  vehemently  and  her 
Royalist  curls  danced  round  her  bright  cheeks. 

267 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"  You  are  no  doomed  man  unless  you  choose," 
she  asserted,  hotly.  Evander  moved  a  step 
nearer  to  her. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  he  asked.  Brilliana 
was  panting  now.  He  knew  she  had  somewhat 
to  say,  and  newly  found  it  hard  in  the  saying. 
She  spoke. 

"  His  Majesty  the  King  will  grant  you  your 
life."  Her  words  and  looks  told  him  tempt- 
ingly that  "your  life"  meant  also  "my  life"  to 
her. 

"  On  what  condition  ?" 

He  knew  there  must  be  a  condition,  knew  that 
the  condition  troubled  Brilliana.  She  answered 
him  swiftly. 

"Oh,  no  condition  at  all."  There  came  a 
catch  in  her  voice  and  then  she  ran  on: 

"  Or  almost  none.  All  his  Majesty  asks  is 
that  you  refrain  from  taking  any  further  part 
in  this  unhappy  war." 

She  paused  and  eyed  him.  Evander's  face 
was  unchanged. 

"No  more  than  that?"  he  commented,  so 
quietly  that,  reassured,  she  rippled  on,  volubly : 

"  No  more  than  that.  We  can  be  wed,  dear 
love.  We  can  go  away  together  to  France, 
Italy,  where  you  please.  I  have  always  had  a 
mind  to  see  Italy.  And  when  England  is  quiet 

268 


LOVER  AND  LOVER 

again  we  can  come  home,  come  here  and  be 
happy." 

She  felt  as  if  she  were  flinging  herself  at  his 
feet,  shamelessly  offering  herself,  to  tempt  him, 
to  dazzle  him,  conquer  him  that  way ;  to  witch 
his  promise  out  of  him  before  he  had  time  to 
think.  Yet  for  all  her  vehemence  there  was  a 
chill  at  her  heart  and  a  cloud  seemed  to  hover 
over  her  sunny  words.  Unwillingly  she  looked 
away  from  him,  but  she  held  out  her  hands  in 
appeal. 

"Hush,  Brilliana!" 

The  grave,  sweet  voice  sounded  on  her  ears 
as  the  knell  of  hope.  But  she  faced  him  again 
with  a  useless,  questioning  glance. 

"Why  talk  of  what  cannot  be?"  Evander 
asked,  sadly. 

Brilliana  denied  him  feverishly. 

"What  can  be — what  must  be!"  she  cried. 
"The  King  has  promised." 

"  I  am  a  soldier  of  the  Parliament,"  Evander 
asserted.  "  I  cannot  abandon  my  cause." 

Brilliana  almost  screamed  at  him  in  her 
anger  and  despair. 

"  You  are  a  prisoner  under  sentence  of  death. 
If  you  die,  what  gain  has  the  Parliament  of  you, 
and  I  must  live  a  widowed  woman."  She  was 
close  to  him  now  and  very  suddenly  she  flung 

269 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

her  arms  about  him,  clasping  him  to  her,  her 
eager  face  close  to  his. 

"Promise,"  she  panted;  "promise,  dear  love, 
promise.  Your  Parliament  loses  nothing,  you 
gain  your  life,  my  love.  Promise,  promise!" 

Evander's  flesh  fought  with  his  spirit,  but  his 
face  was  calm  and  the  arms  that  yearned  to 
enfold  his  lover  lay  by  his  side.  He  turned  his 
face  away  lest  he  should  kiss  her  on  the  mouth, 
and,  kissing,  surrender  his  soul. 

"  I  cannot,"  he  said,  as  if  from  a  great  silence. 
He  would  not  see  the  passionate,  beautiful  face ; 
he  sought  to  fix  his  mind  upon  the  faces  of  those 
whose  faithful  soldier  he  was  sworn.  The  girl 
unloosed  her  arms  and  swayed  away  from  him, 
wild  anger  in  her  eyes. 

"Do  you  call  this  true  love,"  she  sneered, 
"that  is  so  scrupulous?" 

"The  truest  love  in  the  world,"  Evander 
answered,  looking  full  at  her.  He  could  look  at 
her  now;  he  had  no  fear  to  fall.  He  was  losing 
a  joy  beyond  all  thought,  but  at  least  he  would 
die  with  a  white  soul. 

"  Do  you  think  it  is  nothing  to  me  to  die  thus 
losing  you?  But  you  have  served  soldier;  you 
have  a  soldier's  spirit;  you  would  not  have  me 
do  other  than  I  am  doing.  You  do  not  under- 
stand my  cause,  to  think  it  should  be  easy  to 

270 


LOVER  AND  LOVER 

persuade  me  from  it.  But  if  I  were  of  the  King's 
party  and  in  such  peril  so  tempted,  would  you 
wish  me  to  abandon  my  royal  master  to  win 
life  or  love?" 

Brilliana's  cheeks  flamed  a  furious  scarlet; 
then  the  fierce  blood  ebbed  and  left  her  face 
very  pale,  but  her  eyes  were  shining  very  bright. 
She  steadied  herself  against  the  table  and  tried 
to  speak  with  a  steady  voice. 

'  You  are  in  the  right.  You  could  not  do 
other  than  you  are  doing.  But  it  is  very  hard 
to  bear." 

She  reeled  a  little,  and  he,  thinking  her  about 
to  faint,  made  to  support  her,  but  she  stif- 
fened again,  and  he  stood  where  he  was. 
She  bent  forward,  speaking  scarcely  above  a 
whisper. 

"  There  is  a  way  of  escape  from  this  chamber, 
a  secret  passage.  You  can  get  from  it  to  the 
park,  and  so  into  the  open  country  and  safety. 
You  are  my  prisoner.  I  release  you  from  your 
parole.  Fly,  while  there  is  time." 

The  loyal  lovers  were  so  absorbed  in  their 
honorable  contest  that  they  did  not  heed  how 
the  door  of  the  King's  apartment  opened,  first 
a  little  inch,  then,  slowly,  wider  and  wider,  al- 
lowing Charles  Stuart  to  see  and  hear.  A  curi- 
ous smile  reigned  over  the  delicate  face  as  Brilli- 

271 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

ana  made  her  proposal,  and  lingered  in  whimsical 
doubt  for  the  response. 

The  response  came  quickly.  Again  Evander 
was  saying  Brilliana  nay. 

"  I  cannot  that,  neither,  dear  woman,  for 
to  do  this  would  be  to  make  you  disloyal  to 
your  King." 

"Oh,  you  split  straws!"  she  cried,  wildly. 
"  A  plague  upon  your  preciousness  which  drives 
you  to  deny  and  die  rather  than  admit  my  wis- 
dom! You  are  no  prisoner  to  the  King.  You 
are  my  prisoner.  I  took  you,  I  hold  you,  and 
as  my  prisoner  I  command  you  to  follow  me, 
that  I  may  convey  you  to  some  place  of  surety 
more  pleasing  to  my  mind  than  this  mansion." 

From  behind  the  door  ajar  there  came  a  clap 
of  hearty  laughter  which  made  harassed  maid 
and  man  jump  more  than  if  their  discussion  had 
been  interrupted  by  volleying  musketry.  The 
door  was  wide  open  now,  and  the  King  was  in 
the  room,  his  face  irradiated  with  honest  mirth. 


XXIX 
THE   KING    MAKES  A  FRIEND 

"On,  good  sir,"  he  gasped,  dabbing  with  his 
kerchief  the  merry  tears  from  his  smiling  eyes, 
"  you  had  better  do  as  this  lady  urges,  for,  by 
St.  George!  she  employs  the  most  irresistible 
logic." 

Evander  and  Brilliana,  blown  apart,  as  it 
were,  by  the  breath  of  the  King's  merriment, 
regarded  the  monarch  with  very  different  feel- 
ings.' Though  he  stood  upon  the  edge  of  peril's 
precipice,  at  the  threshold  of  death's  temple, 
Evander  could  not  scrutinize  without  vivid  and 
conflicting  emotions  the  face  of  the  man  be- 
cause of  whom  the  solid  realm  of  England  seem- 
ed to  be  dissolving  into  anarchy.  This  was  the 
King  of  ship-money,  the  heart 's-brother  of 
Buckingham,  the  betrayer  of  Strafford,  the 
doer  to  death  of  Eliot,  the  would-be  baffler  of 
free  speech,  the  baffled  hunter  after  the  five 
members.  To  Brilliana  he  was  simply  the 
King,  not  even  the  whole  hero  and  half-martyr 
King  for  whom  she  had  held  Loyalty  House  so 

273 


THE   LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

sturdily,  but  simply  the  only  man  living  graced 
with  power  to  save  the  man  she  loved.  She 
turned  to  him  at  once  with  a  petulant  expression 
of  impatience. 

'Your  Majesty,"  she  sighed,  "I  wish  you 
would  speak  to  this  proud  gentleman.  I  can- 
not make  him  listen  to  reason." 

The  almost  infantile  simplicity  of  her  address 
stirring  the  King  to  renewed  merriment,  served 
her  cause  better,  in  its  very  inappropriateness  to 
the  situation,  than  the  most  impassioned  or  the 
most  calculated  appeals  to  pity  or  to  justice. 
The  audacity  with  which  the  Loyalty  lady  coolly 
enlisted  the  King  as  her  advocate  against  the 
King's  interests  seemed  to  the  sovereign  so  exqui- 
site, so  grotesque,  as  to  merit  calling  irresistible. 

"Truly,"  he  said  to  her,  smiling  that  sweet 
Stuart  smile  which  made  all  who  ever  shone  in 
it  adore  him,  "the  man  must  be  named  Felicis- 
simus  who  is  loved  by  such  a  lady." 

Then  he  turned  his  gaze  upon  Evander,  and 
the  smile  grew  graver,  the  eyes  more  imperious. 

"  So,  sir,"  he  said,  "  you  are  so  certain  sure  of 
the  righteousness  of  your  side  in  this  quarrel 
that  you  cannot,  for  your  life's  sake,  for  your 
love's  sake,  consent  to  stand  neuter  and  look 
on,  Captain  Infallibility?" 

Evander  faced  the  slightly  frowning  interro- 
274 


THE    KING   MAKES  A  FRIEND 

gation  bravely.  He  saluted  soldierly,  conscious 
of  the  subtle  Stuart  charm,  understanding  it 
would  conquer  men  and  women,  glad  to  find 
himself  unconquered. 

'  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  let  me  answer  you 
as  I  answered  this  dear  lady.  If  one  of  those 
gentlemen,  those  Cavaliers  who  rallied  to  your 
flag  at  Nottingham  and  drew  their  swords  for 
you  at  Edgehill,  were  made  prisoner  of  the  Par- 
liament, and  accepted  his  life  on  the  condition 
that  he  stood  aside  and  left  you  to  fight  with- 
out his  aid,  would  you  count  him  a  loyal  sub- 
ject, would  you  call  him  a  faithful  friend,  could 
you  admit  that  he  was  an  honest  soldier?" 

Charles  looked  at  Evander  curiously.  There 
were  some  of  his  friends,  he  thought,  who  might 
not  stand  the  trial  too  well.  He  brushed  the 
thought  aside,  for  he  knew  that  most  of  the 
Cavaliers  would  act  as  gallantly  as  the  young 
Puritan  before  him,  and  he  could  not  but  ap- 
plaud, even  while  he  wondered  at  so  stiff  a  con- 
stancy in  one  whom  he  regarded  as  a  rebel. 

"Well,  well,"  he  said,  "if  this  incomparable 
lady  could  not  persuade  you,  how  could  a  poor 
King  hope  to  succeed  ?  We  must  not  break  this 
lady's  heart,  sir,  between  us,  for  'tis  something 
of  a  rare  jewel,  and  so  you  shall  go  back  to  your 
own  people,  and  when  I  win  the  day  I  shall  re- 

275 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

member  to  be  clement  to  you.  Try  and  come 
out  of  the  scuffle  alive,  for  the  sake  of  your 
sweetheart. ' ' 

The  King  was  so  winning  in  his  grace,  in  his 
dignity,  in  his  tenderness,  that  Evander  felt  his 
heart  in  his  mouth  and  he  tried  not  to  falter  in 
his  words. 

"I  humbly  thank  your  Majesty." 

As  for  Brilliana,  she  fell  on  her  knees  with  tears 
in  her  eyes,  but  the  King  would  not  have  her 
kneel.  In  his  courtliest  manner  he  lifted  her, 
raised  her  right  hand  to  his  lips  and  kissed  it, 
and  then  signifying  to  her  with  a  gesture  to  go 
to  Evander,  he  seated  himself  at  the  table  and 
wrote  rapidly  for  some  seconds,  while  the  two 
lovers  stood  side  by  side,  silent  in  hope  and  joy. 

When  the  King  had  finished  writing  he  shook 
the  powder  over  the  paper  and  let  it  slide  back 
into  the  standish,  drying  the  ink  as  it  slid. 
Then  he  turned  and  held  the  paper  to  Evander, 
who  advanced  and  took  it  kneeling. 

"  This  safe-conduct,"  said  Charles/'  will  insure 
you  from  ill  treatment  or  delay  at  the  hands  of 
any  loyal  subjects,  in  arms  or  otherwise."  He 
leaned  forward  and  struck  upon  the  bell.  To 
the  soldier  on  guard  who  entered  he  gave  order 
that  he  wished  to  see  Sir  Rufus  Quaryll  immedi- 
ately. When  the  soldier  had  left,  he  turned  in 

276 


THE    KING    MAKES  A  FRIEND 

his  chair  a  little,  so  as  to  survey  Evander  and 
Brilliana  standing  before  him  in  silence,  and 
there  was  a  light  of  mockery  in  his  eyes. 

"Young  people,"  he  said,  affecting  mirth- 
fully an  exhortatory  manner,  "you  have 
played  the  first  act  of  your  love-play.  How  it 
is  to  go  with  you  hereafter  it  is  for  all  to  hope, 
albeit  for  none  to  guess  with  discretion.  But  in 
a  little  while  this  land  distracted  will  be  calm 
again,  and  it  may  well  be,  Mr.  Cloud,  that  I 
shall  be  glad  to  see  you  at  Whitehall." 

The  King's  manner  was  mild,  the  King's  voice 
benign;  he  was  really  very  well  pleased  with 
himself  for  his  clemency,  and  very  well  pleased 
with  the  man  and  woman  for  affording  him  an 
opportunity  of  justifying  his  character  of  benev- 
olent autocrat.  He  would  have  said  more,  but 
at  this  moment  the  door  opened  and  Sir  Rufus 
entered  the  room,  looking  as  fierce  and  angry 
as  he  dared  to  look  in  the  presence  of  his  royal 
master.  He  knew  well  enough  that  Brilliana's 
interview  with  the  King  was  likely  to  mean 
mischief  to  his  schemes,  and  his  rage  and  hate 
tore  at  his  life-strings  like  wild  beasts. 

An  impish  malice  lurked  on  Charles's  lips. 
This  discomfiture  of  the  truculent  Rufus  sup- 
plied for  him  the  comic  element  of  his  enter- 
tainment, and  came  just  in  the  nick  of  time  to 

277 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

prevent  its  heroics  and  its  sentimentalities  from 
palling. 

"  Sir  Rufus,"  said  the  King,  gravely,  "  we  ride 
at  once  to  Oxford,  our  loyal,  loving  Oxford. 
Take  order  for  this  on  the  instant.  The  Lady 
Brilliana  resumes  her  command  of  Loyalty 
House,  with  our  royal  thanks  for  her  man's 
spirit  and  our  royal  sympathy  for  her  woman's 
heart.  As  for  the  stranger  within  our  gates,  we 
have  of  our  clemency  given  him  full  leave  to  go 
hence  in  all  freedom,  not  without  some  private 
supplications  that  Heaven  may  be  pleased  to  lift 
a  misguided  gentleman  into  a  better  way  of  life." 

Sir  Rufus  opened  his  lips  as  if  to  speak,  and 
then  closed  them  again  without  speaking.  He 
knew  well  enough  how  stubborn  the  King  could 
be  on  occasion,  and  that  there  was  no  hope  for 
him  to  win  his  game  with  the  King's  help.  He 
saluted  the  King  and  left  the  presence  with  fury 
in  his  heart. 

The  King  turned  to  Evander. 

"Go,  sir,"  he  commanded,  "and  make  ready 
for  your  departure,  which  should  follow  prompt- 
ly upon  mine,  for  I  do  not  think  the  atmosphere 
of  Oxford  will  be  sweet  breathing  for  gentle- 
men of  your  inclining  from  this  out.  I  give  you 
half  an  hour  from  my  riding  to  say  your  adieus 
to  your  sweet  saint  here.  Farewell." 

278 


THE    KING   MAKES  A  FRIEND 

Evander  fell  on  one  knee. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  pleaded,  " permit  me  to 
kiss  your  hand."  The  King  smiled  whimsically, 
yet  a  thought  wistfully. 

"You  are  a  gentle  rebel,"  he  said,  and  held 
out  his  fine,  white  hand  for  Evander 's  saluta- 
tion. Then  the  young  soldier  rose,  and  with 
one  look  of  love  to  Brilliana,  left  the  room. 
Charles  stood  with  his  grave  eyes  fixed  on  his 
hostess,  smiling. 

"  What  a  thing  is  civil  war!"  he  sighed.  "  How 
it  rips  through  the  pretty  web  of  workaday  life, 
dividing  sire  from  son,  sundering  brother  from 
brother,  parting  lover  from  lass!  But  I  was 
forced  to  it — I  was  forced  to  it." 

"It  will  end  soon,  sire,"  Brilliana  suggested, 
tears  in  her  eyes  at  the  sadness  in  his.  The 
King  seemed  to  catch  at  her  speech. 

"Ay,"  he  agreed,  more  cheerily.  "That's  it, 
that's  true.  'Tis  but  a  walk  to  loyal  Oxford, 
'tis  but  a  march  on  disloyal  London,  and  all's 
done." 

"  London  will  prove  loyal  when  your  Majesty 
enters  in  triumph,"  Brilliana  cried.  A  bright 
look  came  over  the  King's  worn  face.  As  in  a 
dream  he  saw  himself,  the  rose  of  that  trium- 
phant entry,  flowers  at  his  feet,  flags  in  the  air, 
loyalty  abroad  in  its  bravest,  huzzaing  its  loud- 

279 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

est,  and  all  grim,  sour-hearted  fellows  safe  out 
of  sight  under  lock  and  key.  Exultantly  he 
held  out  his  hand  for  Brilliana  to  salute. 

"Farewell,  Lady  of  Loyalty." 

"Nay,"  Brilliana  protested,  "I  must  bring 
your  Majesty  to  the  gate.  If  the  fitting  wel- 
come were  missing,  you  shall  not  lack  the  cere- 
monial '  God  speed  you. ' ' 

"I  thank  you,  madam,"  gravely  answered 
Charles.  Brilliana  dipped  him  a  reverence,  and 
then,  opening  the  door,  conducted  her  royal, 
guest  out  of  the  chamber.  In  the  corridor  they 
found  Halfman  waiting  to  kiss  the  King's  hand. 
Charles  felt  for  a  moment  for  his  purse,  and 
then  swiftly  and  regally  changing  his  mind,  he 
drew  a  ring  from  his  finger. 

"Wear  this  for  me,  friend,"  he  requested, 
graciously,  "in  memory  of  old  days." 

Halfman  rose  from  his  knees  and  drew  him- 
self up  as  if  on  parade. 

"God  save  the  King!"  he  thundered,  and 
with  that  loyal  music  in  his  ears  the  King  fol- 
lowed Brilliana  down  the  great  staircase  over 
which  the  carven  angels  kept  watch  and  ward. 
Halfman,  leaning  over  the  rail-way,  saw  the  pair 
pass  through  the  hall,  then  he  turned  and  en- 
tered the  apartment  that  Charles  had  left,  and 
stood  there,  rigid  in  meditation. 

280 


XXX 
RUFUS    PROPOSES 

RUFUS  stepped  stealthily  out  of  the  dusking 
garden  into  the  lighted  room,  and  moving  noise- 
lessly across  the  floor,  laid  his  hand  on  Half- 
man's  shoulder.  Halfman  did  not  look  round. 

"Well,  Sir  Rufus,"  he  asked,  as  calmly  as  if 
the  sudden  touch  had  been  some  recognized, 
awaited  signal. 

"You  are  not  to  be  taken  by  surprise,  my 
good  friend,"  Sir  Rufus  said.  Halfman  shrug- 
ged his  shoulders. 

"  It  would  need  more  than  the  clap  of  a  man's 
paw  on  my  back  to  take  me  by  surprise;  and, 
besides,  I  saw  you  coming.  There  is  a  mirror 
near,  good  Sir  Rufus,  and  even  in  yonder  owl- 
light  I  could  pick  you  out  of  the  mist.  More- 
over, I  thought  you  would  come." 

"Why  did  you  think  I  would  come?"  Sir 
Rufus  asked,  with  a  frown. 

"Just  because  I  thought  it,"  Halfman  an- 
swered, indifferently.  "And,  you  see,  my 
thoughts  were  true  thoughts." 

281 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

Sir  Rufus  came  closer  to  him,  speaking  in  his 
ear. 

"I  hope  you  hate  all  Roundheads,"  he  said. 
"All  damned  rebels." 

Half  man's  only  answer  was  to  whistle  very  soft- 
ly the  first  few  bars  of  a  roaring  Cavalier  ballad. 
The  grasp  on  Half  man's  shoulder  tightened. 

"  There  is  one  damned  Roundhead  here  who 
vexes  me,"  Sir  Rufus  said,  fiercely. 

"  I  think  his  name  is  called  Cloud,"  said  Half- 
man. 

Sir  Rufus  swore  a  round  oath. 

"  I  wish  he  were  dead,"  he  said. 

"  If  wishes  were  coaches,"  Halfman  observed, 
sententiously,  "beggars  would  ride." 

"  He  would  have  been  dead  ere  this  if  she  had 
not  wheedled  the  King  out  of  his  wits.  His 
Majesty  is  in  a  forgiving  disposition  to-day,  and 
forgets  his  friends  at  the  prayer  of  a  pretty  face. 
I  wish  this  rebel  were  dead,  friend." 

"He  will  die  in  time,"  Halfman  commented, 
philosophically.  Sir  Rufus  growled. 

"  You  are  as  dull  as  mud.  It  would  be  money 
in  your  pocket,  friend  Halfman,  ay,  money 
running  over  your  pocket-holes,  if  this  rebel 
were  to  be  your  quarry." 

Halfman  shook  his  head,  and  a  knowing  smile 
twisted  his  mouth  awry. 

282 


RUFUS   PROPOSES 

"  Nay,  Sir  Rufus,  with  your  favor,  you  must 
do  your  own  killing,"  he  said. 

"Why,  so  I  will,"  Rufus  answered,  angrily. 
"  I  will  call  up  the  household,  lay  hands  on  the 
rascal,  back  him  to  the  wall,  and  bang  a  fusil- 
lade into  him." 

Halfman  laughed  derisively. 

"  Call  up  the  household !"  he  crowed.  "  Do  you 
think  they  would  come  at  your  call?  Do  you 
think  they  would  serve  you  against  my  lady? 
Why,  they  would  fling  you  into  the  fish-pools  if 
she  bade  them  do  so." 

The  face  of  Sir  Rufus  showed  that  through  all 
his  fury  he  still  retained  sufficient  command  of 
his  reason  to  know  that  what  Halfman  said  was 
more  than  true.  Halfman  went  leisurely  on : 

'You  cannot  employ  your  own  men  on  the 
business,  neither,  for  they  must  march  to  Ox- 
ford with  the  King.  In  little  it  comes  to  this: 
if  you  want  a  thing  done,  do  it  yourself." 

"You  are  in  the  right,"  Sir  Rufus  agreed, 
gloomily.  "  This  fellow  was  doomed  long  since. 
It  is  no  more  than  common  justice  to  put  him 
out  of  the  way.  But  I  ride  with  the  King." 

"You  need  not  ride  very  far,"  Halfman  sug- 
gested. "A  little  way  on  the  road  you  can  slip 
aside  unseen  and  get  back  here  by  a  bridle- 
path. Watch  at  the  western  gate  of  the  park. 

283 


THE    LADY    OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

His  horse  will  be  waiting  for  him  there  to  carry 
him  to  Cambridge.  After  his  tender  leave- 
taking  he  will  come  to  his  exit  a  clear  mark 
on  the  white  garden-path  for  a  steady  hand 
holding  a  pistol.  So  you  can  whistle  'Good- 
night, cuckoo,'  as  you  haste  to  o'ertake  the 
King." 

"  'Tis  an  ingenious  scheme,"  Sir  Rufus  mused. 
Halfman  laughed  grimly. 

"  Oh,  I  am  a  pattern  of  strategy;  this  is  but  a 
simple  ambuscado,  a  tame  trap.  You  are  a 
sure  shot,  I  know;  you  cannot  miss  your  bird. 
You  need  waste  no  time  in  making  sure  that  he 
is  stark.  I  shall  be  at  hand  to  make  sure,  and 
will  soon  stick  him  in  a  ditch  to  wait  for  judg- 
ment." 

Sir  Rufus  clapped  Halfman  on  the  shoulder. 

"Your  wit  has  a  most  pleasant  invention," 
he  approved.  "  She  will  soon  forget  this  whin- 
ing wry-face." 

Halfman  disengaged  himself  from  the  press- 
ure of  his  companion's  hand. 

"It  is  so  to  be  hoped,"  he  said,  drearily;  "it 
is  so  to  be  believed.  Woman's  love-memory  is 
a  kind  of  quicksand  that  can  swallow  a  score 
or  so  of  gallant  gentlemen  and  show  no  trace 
of  their  passage." 

"A  curse  on  your  poppy  coddle,"  Sir  Rufus 
284 


RUFUS   PROPOSES 

grumbled.  "  I  must  be  stirring.  I  should  like 
him  to  know  that  I  killed  him." 

"  If  I  find  any  breath  in  him  I  will  tell  him," 
Half  man  affirmed.  "Your  honor  over-refines 
your  pleasant  purpose.  The  pith  is  that  he  be 
killed.  Remember  the  western  gate." 

In  another  moment  Half  man  was  alone,  lis- 
tening to  the  sound  of  spurred  heels  on  the  stair- 
way, as  Sir  Rufus  hastened  to  join  the  King. 

"Love  of  woman  leads  us  to  strange  issues," 
he  said  to  himself,  with  a  wintry  smile.  "  Cava- 
lier, Puritan,  and  poor  Jack  here,  we  all  love 
the  same  lady,  and  here  be  two  of  us  clapping 
palms  together  to  kill  ;the  third." 


XXXI 
HALFMAN   DISPOSES 

BRILLIANA  came  in  from  the  garden.  Half- 
man  heard  her  step  and  turned.  She  was  pale 
with  many  emotions;  he  never  had  seen  her 
more  beautiful. 

"The  King  has  gone,  friend,"  she  said;  "God 
bless  him  for  his  clemency." 

"  My  heart  does  not  sing  because  a  Puritan 
lives,"  Halfman  answered,  sourly.  He  stared 
into  the  fire  again  and  saw  burning  towns  be- 
tween the  dogs.  Brilliana  paused  for  a  moment 
and  then  came  a  little  closer  to  him. 

"  We  have  ever  been  friends,"  she  said,  softly. 
There  was  a  note  of  timidity  in  her  voice,  new 
to  Halfman,  and  he  turned  in  surprise. 

"Indeed,"  he  said,  roundly. 

"We  have  been  fellow-soldiers,"  Brilliana 
went  on,  still  with  that  curious  hesitancy  that  sat 
so  strangely  upon  her.  "We  have  shared  a 
siege.  I  have  a  secret  to  tell  you." 

Halfman  felt  a  sudden  uncanny  warning  of 
danger.  "  A  secret,"  he  repeated,  staring  at  her. 

286 


HALFMAN    DISPOSES 

Brilliana  was  outblushing  all  things  red — 
peony,  poppy,  flamingo,  anything. 

'You  have  always  loved  me,  Hobbin?"  she 
asked,  half  timorously. 

"I  have  always  loved  you,"  he  answered, 
slowly,  with  a  rigid  face. 

"  Then  you  will  be  glad  of  what  I  have  to 
tell,"  she  said.  "There  will  be  no  change  here. 
For  I  love  this  gentleman  even  as  this  gentle- 
man loves  me,  and  we  are  to  wed  when  this 
meddling  war  is  ended." 

'You  love  him?"  Half  man  echoed,  dully. 
''  You  wed  an  enemy  to  the  King?" 

Brilliana  sighed. 

"  Love  is  the  greatest  power  in  all  the  world," 
she  said;  "greater  than  kings,  greater  than 
emperors,  greater  than  popes.  But  I  will  wed 
no  enemy  to  the  King.  If  these  wars  were  to 
endure  forever,  then  forever  my  dear  friend  and 
I  would  remain  unwed  and  bear  our  single  souls 
to  heaven." 

Her  voice  was  low  and  dreary;  suddenly  it 
brightened. 

"  But  these  wars  will  not  endure  forever. 
The  King  will  be  in  London  in  a  few  days;  the 
Parliament  will  be  at  his  feet;  my  friend  will  be 
no  more  a  rebel,  for  all  rebellion  will  have  ceased 
to  be." 

287 


THE    LADY   OF    LOYALTY    HOUSE 

"  How  if  your  friend  be  killed  before  the  King 
reaches  London  ?"  Halfman  asked  her,  hoarsely. 
"  The  wheels  of  war  do  not  turn  from  the  path 
of  a  lover." 

"  If  he  be  killed,"  she  said,  simply,  "  I  do  not 
think  I  shall  long  outlive  him.  My  heart  does 
not  veer  like  a  vane  for  every  breath  of  praise  or 
passion.  First  and  last,  I  have  found  my  mate 
in  the  world ;  first  and  last,  I  will  be  loyal  while  I 
live.  But  if  he  die,  I  hope  God  will  deal  gently 
with  me,  nor  suffer  me  to  grow  gray  in  sorrow." 

She  turned  away  from  Halfman  that  he  might 
not  see  the  tears  in  her  eyes,  and  so  turning  did 
not  see  the  tears  that  stood  in  his.  She  moved 
towards  the  harpsichord  and  dropped  into  the 
chair  that  served  it.  Her  fingers  fluttered  over 
the  keys  and  a  tinkling  music  answered  them 
and  underlined  the  words  she  sang: 

"You  ride  to  fight,  my  dearest  friend, 

I  bide  at  home  and  sigh; 
God  only  knows  what  God  may  send, 

To  test  us,  by-and-by. 
If  'tis  decreed  that  you  must  die, 

So  comes  my  world  to  end; 
And  I  will  seek  beyond  the  sky 

The  features  of  my  friend. 
Come  back  from  fight,  my  dearest  friend, 

The  idol  of  my  eye, 
288 


HALFMAN    DISPOSES 

That  hand  in  hand  ourselves  may  bend 

Before  God's  altar  high. 
If  death  consent  to  pass  you  by, 

How  sweetly  shall  we  wend 
To  the  last  home  where  we  shall  lie 

Together,  friend  and  friend." 

As  Brilliana  sat  at  the  harpsichord  playing 
the  brave  Cavalier  ballad,  Halfman,  watching 
her,  found  his  eyes  dim  with  most  unfamiliar 
water.  Fierce  memories  of  his  life  seemed  to 
come  before  him  sharply,  vivid  succeeding 
pictures,  rich  in  evil.  In  a  flash  he  tramped 
across  forests,  sack  and  battle  and  rapine  new 
painted  themselves  upon  his  brain;  deeds  long 
dead  and  forgotten  suddenly  became  instant 
agonies.  He  seemed  like  a  prisoner  before  an 
invisible  judge,  and  his  startled  spirit  sought 
wildly  and  vainly  for  some  good  deed  it  might 
offer  in  plea  for  pity.  If  only  he  had  spared 
that  girl,  that  child  unripe  for  love,  who  never 
dreamed  of  brutal  hands.  He  seemed  to  see 
her  in  the  room  where  he  ran  her  down,  her 
staring  eyes;  he  seemed  to  hear  her  screams; 
he  remembered  how  hot  his  blood  was  then, 
though  now  it  ran  like  ice  at  the  memory.  If 
only  he  had  not  helped  to  torture  the  old  Jew  in 
San  Juan ;  if  only  he  could  blot  out  his  share  in 
all  those  acts  of  lust  and  blood.  And  through  all 

289 


THE    LADY   OF   LOYALTY    HOUSE 

his  horrid  thoughts  came  the  sweet  voice  of 
Brilliana  singing  the  sweet,  brave  words,  and 
he  saw  her  curls  sway  as  she  sang,  and  he 
thought  of  her  love  for  her  kinsman  which  she 
had  told  him  so  simply,  and  he  thought  of  his 
own  mad  love  for  her,  which  she  would  never 
know,  which  no  one  would  ever  understand. 
And  then  he  thought  of  that  grim  sentry  at  the 
western  gate  whose  hate  was  black,  whose  aim 
was  fatal. 

A  fantastic  purpose  came  into  the  man's 
thought.  His  mind  was  ever  like  a  stage  with 
the  lights  lighted  and  the  curtains  drawn,  upon 
whose  boards  himself  played  a  thousand  parts 
and  played  them  to  the  top.  Here  was  the 
part  he  had  never  played,  the  noblest,  the  most 
heroic,  chiefly  perhaps  in  this,  that  it  was  also 
the  loneliest.  The  purpose  had  hardly  pricked 
before  he  seized  it,  hugged  it  to  his  breast, 
made  it  incorporate  with  his  being.  Mingled 
with  his  tender  pity  for  Brilliana  there  was  now 
a  splendid  pity  for  himself,  the  noblest  Ro- 
man of  them  all.  But  the  purpose  must  not 
cool.  His  thoughts  were  all  a- jumble.  One  of 
them  seemed  to  assert  to  his  feverish  fancy  that 
this  way  meant  atonement;  the  quenching  of 
his  torch  some  measure  of  compensation  for  the 
candles  he  had  puffed  out. 

290 


HALFMAN   DISPOSES 

Unseen  he  stretched  his  hands  as  if  in  bene- 
diction towards  Brilliana,  and  then  went  noise^ 
lessly  out  of  the  room.  On  the  stairs  he  met 
Evander  descending  to  say  farewell  to  his  host- 
ess, his  hat  in  his  hand  and  his  cloak  over  his 
arm.  Halfman  stopped  him.  "  She  waits  you 
in  the  garden-room,"  he  said;  "  I  will  hold  your 
cloak  and  hat  for  you  here  while  you  make 
your  adieus.  A  lover  should  not  be  cumbered." 
Evander  thanked  him,  surrendered  cloak  and 
hat,  and  entered  the  garden-room.  He  did  not 
hear  what  Halfman  said,  though  Halfman 
spoke  it  aloud,  with  all  the  lovers  of  all  time  for 
audience:  "There  goes  the  blessedest  man  in 
all  the  world."  Then,  with  Evander's  cloak 
about  him  and  Evander's  hat  upon  his  head, 
Halfman  went  out  into  the  garden. 

At  the  sound  of  Evander's  step  Brilliana 
turned  and  rose  to  greet  him. 

"  My  dear!"  she  cried,  her  eyes  luminous,  her 
breast  heaving. 

"My  riding- time  has  come,"  he  said,  sadly. 
He  stood  apart,  but  she  came  near  to  him  and 
put  her  hands  on  his  shoulders. 

"You  found  me  in  tears,  but  you  must 
think  of  me  as  smiling  —  smiling  for  joy  in 
my  lover,  smiling  at  the  thought  of  his  re- 
turn." 

20  2QI 


THE   LADY   OF   LOYALTY   HOUSE 

He  caught  her  in  his  arms,  clasped  her  close 
to  him,  and  kissed  her  lips.  It  seemed  to  him 
as  if  that  moment  consecrated  him  forever. 
She  was  simply  glad  that  the  man  she  loved  had 
kissed  her. 

"  These  are  evil  days,"  he  said.  "  Who  knows 
when  we  shall  meet  again." 

"At  least  we  have  met,"  she  answered.  "I 
shall  thank  God  for  that,  morning  and  night. 
Nothing  can  change  that,  if  we  do  not  meet  for 
months,  for  years,  if  we  never  meet  again." 

"These  wars  must  end  soon,"  Evander  said, 
confidently.  Brilliana  caught  at  his  hands. 

"You  will  never  hurt  the  King,"  she  cried. 
"  Promise  me  that.  You  will  never  hurt  the 
King." 

"  I  will  never  hurt  the  King,"  Evander  prom- 
ised.    "And  now,  dear  love- 
He  could  not  say  farewell. 

There  was  a  moment's  silence  as  they  stood 
facing  each  other,  holding  hands,  the  woman 
trying  to  smile.  The  silence  was  suddenly, 
brutally  broken  by  the  loud,  clear  report  of  a 
shot.  Brilliana  stiffened  with  the  start. 

"What  was  that?" 

"It  seemed  a  pistol-shot  in  the  garden," 
Evander  answered. 

"Who  should  fire  now?" 
292 


HALFMAN    DISPOSES 

"I  will  go  see,"  Evander  said,  turning  tow- 
ards the  open  space.  Brilliana  restrained  him. 

"Oh  no,  dear  love,  my  heart  misgives;  there 
may  be  danger." 

Evander  gently  released  himself. 

"And  when  are  you  or  I  afraid  of  danger?" 

Brilliana  accepted  this. 

"Then  I  go  with  you." 

Instantly  Evander  paused. 

"No,  no,"  he  said. 

Brilliana  repeated  his  words. 

"Why,  when  are  you  or  I  afraid  of  danger?" 

There  was  a  noise  of  running  feet  in  the  gar- 
den, and  then  Thoroughgood  sped  across  the 
moat  and  into  the  room. 

"  Captain  Halfman  has  been  shot,"  he  gasped. 

"Oh,  by  whom?"  Brilliana  wailed,  her  eyes 
wide  with  horror. 

"Is  he  killed?"  Evander  asked. 

Thoroughgood  answered  both  in  a  breath. 

"  Badly  wounded.     They  bring  him  here." 

As  he  spoke,  Garlinge  and  Clupp  entered  from 
the  garden,  bearing  Halfman  between  them, 
wrapped  in  Evander's  mantle. 

The  man  of  gallant  carriage,  of  swaggering 
alacrity,  seemed  to  lie  horribly  limp  in  the 
men's  arms.  Evander  hurriedly  made  a  couch 
of  chairs  and  bade  them  lay  their  burden  on  it, 

293 


THE    LADY   OF   LOYALTY   HOUSE 

that  he  might  examine  the  wound.  Brilliana 
bent  over  him. 

"Oh,  my  dear  friend,"  she  sobbed. 

The  sound  of  her  voice  seemed  to  awaken 
Halfman.  He  opened  his  eyes. 

"Lift  me  up,"  he  said,  feebly,  to  his  support- 
ers. He  looked  at  Brilliana.  "  Lady,  you  have 
been  deceived.  Sir  Randolph  escaped  from  his 
enemies.  A  snare  was  set  for  Captain  Cloud — " 
he  paused. 

"  By  whom  ?"  cried  Brilliana,  the  woman  eager 
for  her  lover. 

Something  like  a  smile  came  to  Half  man's 
face. 

"That  I  may  not  say.  I  was  privy  to  the 
plot.  But  I  walked  into  the  trap  myself.  I 
fear,  sir,  you  will  find  a  hole  in  your  man  tie." 

"You  wore  my  cloak?"  Evander  asked,  in 
wonder.  "  You  died  for  me  ?" 

"  Ah,  why  did  you  not  warn  ?"  Brilliana  cried. 

Halfman  moved  his  head  feebly. 

"  I  did  not  want  to  live." 

"But  you  shall  live,"  Brilliana  insisted, 
prayed. 

Halfman  laughed  very  faintly. 

"  I  do  not  think  so.  I  am  an  old  soldier,  and 
—ah!" 

He  gave  a  great  gasp.  Then  suddenly  lifted 
294 


HALFMAN    DISPOSES 

himself  a  little  and  saluted  Brilliana  as  if  on 
parade. 

"Here,  my  sweet  warrior,"  he  said,  clearly. 
He  looked  fixedly  at  Brilliana  and  declaimed, 
"  I  did  hear  you  speak,  far  above  singing."  Then 
his  chin  dropped ;  his  head  fell  back  on  the  sup- 
porting arms.  Evander  touched  him,  turned 
to  Brilliana. 

"Alas!  he's  sped." 

The  only  sound  in  the  silent  room  was  the 
weeping  of  Brilliana  in  Evander's  arms. 


EPILOGUE 

MASTER  MARFLEET  in  his  "  Diurnal"  hides  in 
his  prolixities  some  particulars  interesting  to  us. 
Thus  we  learn  incidentally  from  some  reflec- 
tions on  the  wickedness  of  the  great,  that  while 
the  King  reigned  in  Oxford — to  Master  Marfleet 
he  is  always  the  "  Man  of  Blood  "  when  he  is  not 
Nebuchadnezzar — Lady  Brilliana  Harby  was  in 
such  favor  at  the  court  and  with  the  Queen  as 
to  obtain  patents  of  knighthood  for  two  neigh- 
bors of  hers,  one  Paul  Hungerford  and  one  Peter 
Rainham.  We  further  learn  that  Brilliana  ac- 
companied the  Queen — in  whom  Mr.  Marfleet 
traces  a  remarkable  likeness  to  Jezebel  —  to 
France  in  1644,  after  which  "flight  of  kites, 
crows,  and  other  carrion  fowl"-— the  words  are 
Mr.  Marfleet 's — the  estate  of  Harby  came, 
through  the  good  offices  of  General  Cromwell, 
into  the  hands  of  Colonel  Evander  Cloud,  much 
to  Mr.  Marfleet's  satisfaction,  a  satisfaction 
which  the  school-master  did  not  live  long  enough 
to  lose. 

Of  Colonel  Cloud's  honorable  military  career 
296 


EPILOGUE 

we  find  a  brief  but  eminently  satisfactory  ac- 
count in  Corporal  Blow-the-Trumpet-against- 
Jericho  Pring's  pamphlet  —  now  more  than 
scarce— entitled  "The  Roll-Call  of  the  Regi- 
ments of  Zion." 

From  a  letter  of  Colonel  Cloud's,  preserved 
in  the  Perrington  Papers  (Historical  Manu- 
scripts Commission,  vol.  XCIX.,  B),  we  learn 
that  after  Naseby  the  writer  found  among  the 
dying  the  person  of  Sir  Rufus  Quaryll. 

"As  God  may  forgive  me,"  he  writes,  " I  had 
sought  for  this  man  in  encounter  after  encounter, 
with  black  thoughts  of  vengeance  in  my  bosom. 
But  as  he  lay  there  I  felt  constrained  by  divine 
impulse  to  forgive  him,  though  he  made  me  no 
answer  but  to  curse  horribly  at  me  and  at  the 
fool  who  took  my  place ;  and  so  passed  away,  as 
I  fear,  very  impenitent." 

After  the  surrender  of  the  King  by  the  Scots, 
and  the  end,  as  it  seemed,  of  the  civil  war, 
Colonel  Cloud,  with  the  permission  of  his  great 
chief,  retired  from  active  affairs  and  made  his 
way  to  France,  to  Paris,  where,  in  the  early 
spring  of  1647,  ^e  was  married  to  LadyBrilliana 
Harby.  Some  of  the  French  writers  of  the 
time  make  rather  merry  over  this  romantic 
union  and  the  five  years  fidelity  of  squire  and 
dame — Strephon  and  Chloe,  as  they  are  pleased 

297 


THE   LADY   OF   LOYALTY    HOUSE 

to  call  them.  But  the  laugh  is  rather  on  the 
wrong  side  of  the  face,  for  it  is  well  known  that 
there  was  bitter  disappointment  in  the  hearts 
and  on  the  lips  of  many  French  gallants  who 
had  tried  their  best  to  win  the  beautiful  Eng- 
lish girl,  and  greatly  resented  her  reservation 
for  this  solemn  gentleman.  One  or  two  efforts, 
however,  to  make  this  resentment  plain  to  the 
English  soldier  resulting  uncomfortably,  after  a 
brisk  morning's  work,  in  the  temporary  disable- 
ment of  one  aggressor  and  the  repeated  dis- 
arming of  another,  in  the  end  the  "homme  a 
Cromwell"  was  left  to  wed  in  peace.  Oddly 
enough,  his  best  man  was  his  old  acquaintance 
Sir  Blaise  Mickleton,  who,  having  realized  his 
property  in  good  time,  had  settled  in  Paris 
since  1644  and  had  almost  forgotten  his  native 
tongue,  which  he  spoke,  when  he  did  speak,  with 
a  little  broken  French  accent,  very  pretty  to  hear. 
He  had  once  tried  to  renew  his  pretensions  to 
the  hand  of  Brilliana,  and  had  been  so  startling- 
ly  rebuffed  that  he  never  repeated  the  effort 
and  was  content  to  remain  her  very  good  friend. 
Evander  was  in  England  once  or  twice  during 
the  years  1647  and  1648,  but  after  the  death  of 
the  King,  against  which  he  vainly  protested,  with 
his  famous  friend  he  settled  down  in  France,  in 
the  Loire  country,  for  many  happy  years. 

298 


EPILOGUE 

After  the  Restoration,  Harby  Hall  passed  by 
mutual  arrangement  into  the  hands  of  Sir  Ran- 
dolph Harby,  who  had  cheerfully  ruined  himself 
in  the  service  of  his  King.  Through  him  the 
name  still  persists  in  Maryland,  in  America. 
Harby  itself  was  destroyed  by  fire  early  in  the 
eighteenth  century.  It  was  not  rebuilt;  the 
moat  was  filled  up,  and  no  trace  of  Loyalty 
House  remains  to-day.  In  Harby  church-yard 
there  is  an  ancient  stone,  set  there  by  Brilliana's 
order.  It  bears  the  name  of  Half  man,  the  date 
of  his  death,  and  after  that  date  the  words,  "  I 
did  hear  you  speak,  far  above  singing."- 


THE    END 


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A    000046216     8 


